Family in English : complete course

When you start learning English, one of the first and most useful topics is family vocabulary. Knowing how to talk about your family helps you introduce yourself, have simple conversations, and connect with people around the world. In this article, we will explore the basic words and expressions used to talk about family in English.

Simple Examples to Get Started

Here are a few everyday sentences you might use:

• This is my mother. Her name is Sarah.
• I have two brothers and one sister.
• My grandfather lives with us.
• She is my aunt. She is very kind.

As you can see, family sentences in English are short and easy to build. You just need to learn the right words!

Key Elements of Family Vocabulary in English

Let us look at the main family members and how to name them in English.

The Immediate Family

The immediate family includes the people you live with or who are most closely related to you.

• My mom is a teacher.
• I have one brother. His name is Tom.
• Their daughter is five years old.

The Extended Family

The extended family includes relatives who are not part of your immediate household.

• My grandma makes delicious cookies.
• I visit my uncle every summer.
• She is my cousin. We are the same age.

Talking About Your Family

In English, we often use simple sentences to describe our family. Here are some useful structures:

• I have a big / small family.
• There are four people in my family.
• My parents are called Maria and John.
• I am an only child. (= I have no brothers or sisters)

Why Knowing Family Vocabulary Matters

Talking about your family is one of the most natural things people do when they meet someone new. If you travel, make new friends, or work with English speakers, you will almost always be asked: ‘Do you have brothers or sisters?’ or ‘Where are your parents from?’

Learning family words also helps you understand stories, movies, and books in English. Many everyday conversations start with family topics. It is a great way to build your confidence in English!

Comparison with Other Languages

English family vocabulary is sometimes simpler than in other languages. Here is a quick comparison:

One important difference: in English, the word ‘cousin’ is the same for both male and female. In French and Spanish, there are two different forms. English is often simpler in this way!

Also, English does not use different words for older or younger siblings, unlike some Asian languages. ‘Brother’ always means ‘brother’, no matter the age.

A Complete Example

Here is a short paragraph a student might write or say to introduce their family:

‘Hi! My name is Lucas. I have a small family. There are four people: my mother, my father, my sister, and me. My mother is a nurse. My father is an engineer. My sister’s name is Anna. She is twelve years old. I also have a grandmother. She lives near us and we visit her every weekend. I love my family!’

This is a perfect example of how you can use simple family vocabulary to tell your own story in English.

Key Points to Remember

• Learn the most common family words first: mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather.
• Use simple sentences like ‘I have a brother’ or ‘My mother is a doctor.’
• In English, ‘cousin’ is the same word for male and female.
• Talking about your family is a great way to practice English in real life.
• Start with immediate family, then move on to extended family words.

Sources

• Council of Europe. (2001). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Cambridge University Press.
• Hornby, A. S. (2015). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (9th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Biber, D., Conrad, S., and Leech, G. (2002). Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Pearson Education.