Relationships are an important part of life, and English has many words to describe the different types of connections we can have with other people. This article covers vocabulary for family relationships, friendships, romantic partners, and social relationships.
Family Relationships
Family relationships are the connections we have with people related to us by blood, marriage, or adoption. These words help you talk about your family members and understand how they are related.
Here are some common family relationship words:
| English Singular | English Plural | Short Definition | Example Sentence | Example Translations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| parent | parents | a mother or father of a child | My parents live in New York. | Mes parents vivent à New York. (French) |
| mother | mothers | a female parent | My mother is a teacher. | Meine Mutter ist Lehrerin. (German) |
| father | fathers | a male parent | My father loves fishing. | Mi padre ama la pesca. (Spanish) |
| sibling | siblings | a brother or sister | I have two siblings. | J'ai deux frères et sœurs. (French) |
| brother | brothers | a male sibling | My brother is older than me. | Meu irmão é mais velho que eu. (Portuguese) |
| sister | sisters | a female sibling | My sister plays the piano. | Meine Schwester spielt Klavier. (German) |
| child | children | a son or daughter | They have three children. | Ellos tienen tres hijos. (Spanish) |
| son | sons | a male child | Their son is in college. | Leur fils est à l'université. (French) |
| daughter | daughters | a female child | Her daughter is very talented. | Su hija es muy talentosa. (Spanish) |
| grandparent | grandparents | a parent of one's parent | My grandparents live on a farm. | Meine Großeltern leben auf einem Bauernhof. (German) |
Friendship Vocabulary
Friendship vocabulary helps you describe the people you choose to spend time with, trust, and enjoy life alongside.
Here are some common friendship words:
| English Singular | English Plural | Short Definition | Example Sentence | Example Translations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| friend | friends | a person you like and trust | I met my best friend in school. | J'ai rencontré mon meilleur ami à l'école. (French) |
| best friend | best friends | your closest and most trusted friend | She is my best friend. | Sie ist meine beste Freundin. (German) |
| acquaintance | acquaintances | a person you know but are not close to | I have many acquaintances at work. | Tengo muchos conocidos en el trabajo. (Spanish) |
| buddy | buddies | an informal word for a friend | He's my fishing buddy. | C'est mon copain de pêche. (French) |
| pal | pals | an informal word for a friend | We have been pals since childhood. | Somos amigos desde la infancia. (Spanish) |
| companion | companions | a person you spend time with | She is my traveling companion. | Ella es mi compañera de viaje. (Spanish) |
| mate | mates | a British/Australian informal word for friend | He's my mate from university. | Er ist mein Kumpel aus der Uni. (German) |
| confidant | confidants | a person you trust with secrets | She's my confidant. | Ella es mi confidente. (Spanish) |
| teammate | teammates | a person on the same team as you | My teammates are very supportive. | Mes coéquipiers sont très solidaires. (French) |
| neighbor | neighbors | a person who lives near you | My neighbor helped me fix the sink. | Mi vecino me ayudó a arreglar el lavabo. (Spanish) |
Fill in the blank: She is my traveling _____.
companion
'Companion' means a person you spend time with, and it fits the context of traveling together.
Romantic Relationship Vocabulary
Romantic relationship vocabulary covers the words used to describe people you date, fall in love with, or marry.
Here are some common romantic relationship words:
| English Singular | English Plural | Short Definition | Example Sentence | Example Translations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| partner | partners | a person you are in a romantic relationship with | She and her partner live together. | Elle et son partenaire vivent ensemble. (French) |
| boyfriend | boyfriends | a male romantic partner | My boyfriend is very kind. | Mi novio es muy amable. (Spanish) |
| girlfriend | girlfriends | a female romantic partner | Her girlfriend is a doctor. | Ihre Freundin ist Ärztin. (German) |
| spouse | spouses | a husband or wife | They celebrated their 10th year as spouses. | Celebraron su décimo aniversario como cónyuges. (Spanish) |
| husband | husbands | a married man | Her husband is an engineer. | Son mari est ingénieur. (French) |
| wife | wives | a married woman | His wife cooks delicious meals. | Su esposa cocina comidas deliciosas. (Spanish) |
| fiancé | fiancés | a person engaged to be married (male) | He is a fiancé. | Er ist verlobt. (German) |
| fiancée | fiancées | a person engaged to be married (female) | She is a fiancée. | Elle est fiancée. (French) |
| date | dates | a person you go out with romantically | I have a date tonight. | Ich habe heute Abend ein Date. (German) |
| lover | lovers | a person you have a romantic or sexual relationship with | They were secret lovers. | Étaient des amants secrets. (French) |
Which word means 'a person engaged to be married' (female)?
fiancée
'Fiancée' is the term for a woman who is engaged to be married. The male equivalent is 'fiancé.'
Social Relationship Vocabulary
Social relationship vocabulary describes the roles and connections we have in communities, workplaces, and other group settings.
Here are some common social relationship words:
| English Singular | English Plural | Short Definition | Example Sentence | Example Translations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| colleague | colleagues | a person you work with | I have a meeting with my colleagues. | J'ai une réunion avec mes collègues. (French) |
| boss | bosses | a person in charge at work | My boss is very supportive. | Mi jefe es muy comprensivo. (Spanish) |
| teammate | teammates | a person on the same team as you | My teammates are helpful. | Mes coéquipiers sont utiles. (French) |
| classmate | classmates | a person in the same class as you | I met my best friend in high school; she was my classmate. | Conocí a mi mejor amiga en la secundaria; era mi compañera de clase. (Spanish) |
| roommate | roommates | a person you share a living space with | I live with two roommates. | Ich wohne mit zwei Mitbewohnern zusammen. (German) |
| neighbor | neighbors | a person who lives near you | My neighbor is very friendly. | Mi vecino es muy amable. (Spanish) |
| acquaintance | acquaintances | a person you know slightly | We are just acquaintances. | Nous sommes simplement connaissances. (French) |
| client | clients | a person who buys services or goods | The client was very pleased. | Der Kunde war sehr zufrieden. (German) |
| mentor | mentors | an experienced person who guides you | My mentor helped me get a promotion. | Mi mentor me ayudó a conseguir un ascenso. (Spanish) |
| stranger | strangers | a person you do not know | Be careful when talking to strangers. | Sei vorsichtig, wenn du mit Fremden sprichst. (German) |
Conclusion
This vocabulary covers the main types of relationships you’ll encounter in English: family, friendship, romance, and social connections. Use these words to describe your own relationships and understand others better.
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- Short Definition: a mother or father of a child
- Example Sentence: My parents live in New York.
- Example Translations: Mes parents vivent à New York. (French)
- English Singular: parent
- English Plural: parents
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
