Useful Vocabulary Birth pregnant pregnancy A woman becomes pregnant. We say she's pregnant. She's having a baby.

We call also call it a pregnancy.

antenatal

She goes to an antenatal clinic for check ups. Antenatal means "before birth", it's also called prenatal.

labour

Eventually she starts to have the baby. We call this going into labour.

birth newborn

When the baby arrives we say the mother has given birth. The baby is called a newborn baby.

baby

We also say the parents have had a baby.

milk Babies drink milk. They can be breast fed. breastmilk

bottle

They can be bottle fed.

nappy

Babies have to have their nappy changed.

certificate

All babies are registered at birth, and issued with a birth certificate.

christening

Some babies are christened by their parents. The ceremony is called a christening.

pram

Babies can't walk so they get pushed in prams.

pushchair

When babies are older they go for walks in pushchairs.

adopt

If someone can't have children they may adopt a child who is in need of a family.

Growing Up - The stages of childhood baby infant girl boy

Between 1 to 12 months you are a baby, an infant, or a girl / boy.

toddler

Between the ages of 1 to 3 years, when you start to walk, you are a toddler, or a girl / boy.

preschooler Between the ages of 3 to 5 years you are a preschooler, a child, a kid, or a girl / child boy. kid

schoolchild schoolgirl schoolboy

Between the ages of 5 to 10 years you are a child, a schoolchild / schoolgirl / schoolboy, or a girl / boy.

preteen

Between the ages of 11 to 12 years you are a preteen, a schoolchild / schoolgirl / schoolboy, a child, or a girl / boy.

teenager Between the ages of 13 to 19 years you are a teenager. teen

man woman

From the age of 18 you are legally an adult, or a man / woman. This is the age at which you can get married without having to ask your parents (called parental consent).

Growing Old graduate (v) graduate (n) When you are an adult you might graduate from University. Then you become a post graduate.

work When you are an adult you need to work and get a job. job marriage married partner family parent When you are an adult you might get married.

When you're an adult you might have a family and become a parent.

housewife househusband

When you're an adult you might decide to stay at home to look after your family. Then you become a housewife or a househusband.

retire When you are 65 you can retire. Then you become a pensioner. pensioner

Death and dying die dead death undertaker coffin funeral burial Your body is taken to an undertakers and placed in a coffin. Then your family and friends hold a ceremony - a funeral or burial When you die you pass away and you are dead. You become known as the deceased.

grave You are buried in a grave. buried

mausoleum

You may end up in a mausoleum

wreath

People send a wreath.

will heir(s) inheritance Hopefully your wrote a will before you died. A will tells your executor about how you want your belongings to be shared between your heirs. This is their inheritance..

orphan

If both your parents die when you're still young, you are an orphan.

Pronunciation Click here

Build Up - Irregular Plurals for People - You can't always just add an (s) Singular child man person woman Plural children men people women

Naturally Speaking
Things we say / write:-

About the birth of Congratulations! a baby. Congratulations on the birth of your baby girl / boy. Congratulations! About a Well done! graduation.

All the best for the future. Congratulations on graduating. Congratulations on your graduation. About a wedding. Congratulations! All the best for the future. Best wishes on your marriage. Best wishes on your wedding day. About retirement. Congratulations! All the best for the future. Congratulations on your retirement. Best wishes for your retirement. About a death. I'm sorry for your loss. I'm so sorry to hear that. When you hear someone has died you offer your condolences to the family and friends of the person. Sometimes there is an orbituary printed in the paper. Please accept my sincere condolences.

Dialogue
Here is a conversation between Mr Smith and his doctor

Mrs Smith : Mr Smith: Mrs Smith: Mr Smith: Mrs Smith: Mr Smith:

It's Saturday morning and Mr Smith is reading the newspaper. Anything interesting in the paper? Not much. I was just reading the announcements. That's a bit morbid. Not at all, it's births and marriages as well as deaths. But I did read one of the oribituaries. It seems that the old lady down the road passed away. Really? That's a shame. I know she went to hospital, but I hadn't heard any more. I shall have to phone up and offer my condolences. Rather you than me. I never know what to say in those circumstances.