Семья и родственники

Vocabulary: basic family members

In this section we list the most common words used to talk about family. Learning these words helps you describe your close relations, their roles and how they are connected. Words for family members are among the first vocabulary items taught in English classes.

Mother - a female parent; the woman who gave birth to or cares for a child.

Father - a male parent; a man who is the parent of a child or who acts as a parent.

Sibling - a brother or sister; someone who shares at least one parent with you.

Extended family and relationships

Beyond the nuclear family there are many types of relatives: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and in some cultures, more distant kin are also important. The terms describe both blood relationships and relationships by marriage.

Grandmother - the mother of one''s parent; an older female family member in the previous generation.

Aunt - the sister of one''s parent or the wife of one''s uncle.

Cousin - a child of your aunt or uncle; someone from the same generation in a family who shares a set of grandparents.

Family tree and how to describe connections

When you create a family tree, you place relatives and show how they are connected. A basic tree starts with grandparents at the top, parents in the middle and children at the bottom. You can describe connections using phrases such as "is the mother of", "is the son of" or "is married to".

Diagrams and pictures help to visualise relationships. Use labels and short sentences to explain each connection and practice saying them aloud to improve fluency. {IMAGE_0}

In-law - a relative by marriage, for example a mother-in-law is the mother of one''s spouse.

Describing family members: adjectives and appearance

When talking about family, you often describe people with adjectives: kind, strict, funny, quiet, creative. You can describe physical features and personality. It is polite to be respectful and avoid negative comments in formal situations.

Use comparative and superlative forms to compare family members: for example, to say one person is taller or more talkative than another. Practice with simple sentences: My sister is older than me. My grandmother is the kindest person in our family.

Stepfamily - a family in which at least one parent has children that are not biologically related to the other parent; includes stepmother, stepfather, stepsibling.

Possessive forms and pronouns

Possessive forms show ownership and family relationships: "my mother", "his uncle", "their children". Use possessive pronouns and possessive ''s when speaking and writing to be clear about who belongs to whom.

Remember that personal pronouns change depending on who you talk about. Replace nouns with pronouns to avoid repetition: instead of saying "My father is a teacher. My father likes gardening," say "My father is a teacher. He likes gardening."

Spouse - a husband or wife; a person''s partner in marriage.

Common phrases and questions about family

There are many fixed phrases used when talking about family. For example: "How many siblings do you have?", "Do you have any children?", "Where are your parents from?" Practice both asking and answering these questions in short dialogues.

Family activities and traditions

Families often share routines and traditions: special meals, holidays, games and celebrations. Describing these activities is a good way to practise the past simple and present simple tenses while using relevant vocabulary like "reunion", "celebration" and "tradition".

When writing about family traditions, include details: what you do, who is there, how often it happens and why it is important. This adds depth and helps listeners or readers understand cultural background.

Useful verbs with family vocabulary

Common verbs used with family terms include: to marry, to divorce, to adopt, to raise, to care for. Learn the correct prepositions and objects that go with these verbs, for example "to get married to someone" or "to look after a child".

Adopt - to legally take another person''s child into your family and raise them as your own.

Practice: short dialogues and tasks

Regular practice with dialogues helps you become fluent when speaking about family. Try role plays where one student interviews another about their family, using the vocabulary and phrases learned in this lesson.

Writing tasks and short compositions

For writing practice, describe your family in a short paragraph. Include names, ages, relationships, and one or two details about their interests or jobs. This helps combine vocabulary, grammar and personal information in a clear format.

Another exercise is to compare two families, real or imaginary, by listing similarities and differences. Use connecting words such as "however", "also", "whereas" to make comparisons more fluent and natural.

Cultural notes and sensitivity

Family structures vary widely across cultures. Some cultures emphasize large extended families, while others focus on the nuclear family. Respectful language is important: avoid assumptions about family size, marital status or gender roles.

When asking about family in a polite context, use neutral and open questions and be mindful of privacy. For example, instead of asking direct personal questions in a formal setting, you can say "Would you like to tell me about your family?"