Family Relationships in English

And Phrases About Family

Table of family relationships in English!

Male Female Relationship

father mother parent

son daughter child

husband wife spouse

brother sister sibling

grandfather grandmother grandparents

grandson granddaughter Grandchild

uncle aunt parent's sibling

nephew niece sibling's child

cousin cousin aunt's/uncle's child

Basic words

father – somebody’s male parent

mother – somebody’s female parent

parent – somebody’s father or mother

son – somebody’s male child

daughter – somebody’s female child

husband – the man who a woman is married to

wife – the woman who a man is married to

spouse – somebody married to another person; husband or wife

brother – a boy or man who has the same parents as another person

sister – a girl or woman who has the same parents as another person

sibling – a brother or sister

elder brother/sister – a brother/sister who is older than you

younger brother/sister – brother/sister who is younger than you

grandfather – somebody’s parent’s father

grandmother – somebody’s parent’s mother

grandparent – somebody’s parent’s parent

great grandfather – a father of your grandparent

great grandmother – a mother of your grandparent

grandson – somebody’s son’s or daughter’s son

granddaughter – somebody’s son’s or daughter’s daughter

grandchild – somebody’s son’s or daughter’s child

uncle – somebody’s mother’s or father’s brother; your aunt’s husband

aunt – somebody’s mother’s or father’s sister; your uncle’s wife

nephew – somebody’s brother’s or sister’s son; your husband’s or wife’s brother’s or

sister’s son
niece – somebody’s brother’s or sister’s daughter; your husband’s or wife’s brother’s or
sister’s daughter

cousin – somebody’s parent’s brother’s or sister’s child; somebody’s aunt’s or uncle’s child

stepfather – your mother’s husband (not your real father)

stepmother – your father’s wife (not your real mother)

stepbrother – your stepfather’s or stepmother’s son (at least one of your parents is
different)

stepsister – your stepfather’s or stepmother’s daughter (at least one of your parents is
different)

stepson – your spouse’s son (from an earlier marriage)

stepdaughter – your spouse’s daughter (from an earlier marriage)

father-in-law – your spouse’s father

mother-in-law – your spouse’s mother

brother-in-law – your spouse’s brother

sister-in-law – your spouse’s sister

son-in-law – your daughter’s husband

daughter-in-law – your son’s wife

boyfriend – a boy or man that a girl or woman goes out with

girlfriend – a girl or woman that a boy or man goes out with

widow – a woman whose husband has died

widower – a man whose wife has died

bachelor – a man who has never been married

spinster – a woman who has never been married

single – a person who isn’t married and doesn’t have a boyfriend/girlfriend

12 Words and Phrases with Examples

1. baby – a very young child

 I always do some housework when the baby is sleeping in the afternoon.

2. infant – a baby or very young child, newborn child

 My sister is 14 years old, but sometimes she acts like an infant.

3. toddler – a young child who has just learnt to walk

 Toddlers can walk, but they don’t always talk yet.

4. marriage – legal relationship between a husband and wife

 She only has a stepdaughter from her husband’s first marriage, but she likes her as
her own.
5. marry (sb), get married to sb – become somebody’s husband or wife

 My father was 29 and my mother was 25 when they got married.

6. go out (with sb) – spend time with somebody and have a romantic or sexual relationship
with them

 My parents had been going out for two years before they got married.
 My mother doesn’t like that I go out with Tom; she says he’s too old for me.
7. get engaged – agree to marry somebody

 Imagine, my sister has just got engaged to a footballer, they’re planning to get married
in the summer.
8. wedding – the act of marrying, a marriage ceremony (and the meal or party that

. bride – a woman on her wedding day, or just before or just after it

10. (bride)groom – a man on his wedding day, or just before or just after it

 The prince’s wedding ceremony will take place in the cathedral. Then the bride and
thegroom will be taken to the wedding reception in an open Rolls Royce.
11. honeymoon – a holiday taken by a couple who have just got married