Family Members in English

Families are a pillar of society and form the base for cultures all over the world. If you are thinking of taking a trip to an English-speaking country, it is a good idea to learn the vocabulary you need to describe family relationships. You never know, you could make new friends or even find your better half! That is why ABA English has prepared a glossary of family vocabulary in English.

Family Members

The English used for family members is practically the same as the language found in other languages. The main difference is that in English many words are formed with prefixes and suffixes, making learning family vocabulary much easier.

In some cases, prefixes in English can be very simple. For example, for the names of relatives acquired by a second marriage, you simply add the prefix step to words like mother and father, giving you stepmother and stepfather.

The majority of the words that indicate the relationship between grandparent and grandchild are formed with the prefix grand. For the relationships between great-grandparents and grandchildren, simply add great.

For words that indicate a relationship of religious origin, like godmother and goddaughter, simply add the prefix god.

What can be said about family relationships created by marriage? For these, the expression in-law is added to the end of the words. For example, a sister you gained through marriage is your sister-in-law.

To summarize, if you memorize the words for the closest family relationships, for the rest you simply need to add prefixes or suffixes. Then you will have a complete dictionary of family members in English up to the seventh generation.

Here is an (almost) complete list.

Famous Quotes and Sayings

As you know, family life is not always easy. It is with our closest relatives that we can feel protected and safe, or on the contrary, with them we can experience our worst moments, at times even wanting to escape. Regardless of the problems and challenges that arise, we all love our relatives and are happy to have people that form a natural part of our life and support us. For this reason, we thought it would be a good idea to share some quotes in English about family life to show that, even in English-speaking countries, life is not so different. Some of the quotes are quite funny. Take a look and choose the one that you like the most!

“Children are a great comfort in your old age – and they help you reach it faster, too.” – Lionel Kauffman

“I grew up with six brothers. That’s how I learned to dance – waiting for the bathroom.” – Bob Hope

“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.” – Rudolph Giuliani

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” – Oscar Wilde

“There’s nothing that makes you more insane than family. Or more happy. Or more exasperated. Or more… secure.” – Jim Butcher

Are You Ready for Your Family Reunion in English?

Now that you know the names of your family members in English, you are ready to be a part of our great ABA English family. We have 144 video classes and short films waiting for you, as well as tutorials and native teachers ready to help you with all of your English communication needs. What are you waiting for? Welcome to the ABA English family!