Learning family vocabulary is important for everyday English conversations. This guide includes a complete list of family members in English with clear definitions and example sentences. You’ll find immediate family, extended relatives, in-laws, generational terms, and modern family vocabulary. It also covers legal and informal expressions commonly used by native speakers — useful for speaking, writing, or exams at any English level.
Types of Family Members in English
In English, family members are grouped into different categories based on their relationship to you. These include immediate family, extended family, in-laws, blended family members, and others. Each category includes specific terms that describe how people are connected within a family structure.
Immediate Family Members
Father – Your male parent.
Example: My father is a doctor.
Dad – Informal term for father.
Example: I play chess with my dad every weekend.
Mother – Your female parent.
Example: My mother cooks the best meals.
Mom – Informal term for mother.
Example: I talk to my mom every day.
Parents – A general term for your father and mother.
Example: My parents are coming to visit.
Son – Your male child.
Example: Her son is very polite.
Daughter – Your female child.
Example: They have two daughters in school.
Child / Children – General term for a son or daughter.
Example: They have three children.
Husband – A man who is married.
Example: Her husband is an architect.
Wife – A woman who is married.
Example: My wife loves reading historical fiction.
Sibling – A brother or sister.
Example: I have four siblings: two brothers and two sisters.
Extended Family Members
Brother – Your male sibling.
Example: My brother lives in another city.
Sister – Your female sibling.
Example: My sister and I are very close.
Uncle – The brother of your father or mother.
Example: I went fishing with my uncle last summer.
Aunt – The sister of your father or mother.
Example: My aunt makes amazing desserts.
Cousin – The child of your aunt or uncle.
Example: I spent the holidays with my cousins.
Nephew – The son of your brother or sister.
Example: My nephew just started kindergarten.
Niece – The daughter of your brother or sister.
Example: I gave my niece a birthday gift.
Grandfather – Your parent’s father.
Example: My grandfather was a history teacher.
Grandmother – Your parent’s mother.
Example: I bake cookies with my grandmother.
Grandparents – Both your grandfather and grandmother.
Example: We visited our grandparents last weekend.
Grandson – Your son’s or daughter’s son.
Example: She loves spending time with her grandson.
Granddaughter – Your son’s or daughter’s daughter.
Example: Their granddaughter plays the piano.
Generational Family Members
Great-grandfather – The father of your grandparent.
Example: My great-grandfather fought in the war.
Great-grandmother – The mother of your grandparent.
Example: My great-grandmother lived to be 99.
Great-grandparents – Both of your great-grandmother and great-grandfather.
Example: We found a photo of our great-grandparents.
Ancestor – A family member from many generations ago.
Example: Our ancestors came from Italy.
Descendant – A person born from someone in your family line.
Example: She is a descendant of a famous poet.
In-Law Family Members
Father-in-law – Your spouse’s father.
Example: My father-in-law helped us move house.
Mother-in-law – Your spouse’s mother.
Example: I visited my mother-in-law on Sunday.
Brother-in-law – Your spouse’s brother, or your sibling’s husband.
Example: My brother-in-law is a police officer.
Sister-in-law – Your spouse’s sister, or your sibling’s wife.
Example: My sister-in-law is coming over tonight.
Son-in-law – Your daughter’s husband.
Example: They have a great relationship with their son-in-law.
Daughter-in-law – Your son’s wife.
Example: Our daughter-in-law is a teacher.
Blended and Modern Family Vocabulary
Stepfather – Your parent’s new husband (not your biological father).
Example: My stepfather taught me how to drive.
Stepmother – Your parent’s new wife (not your biological mother).
Example: I live with my dad and stepmother.
Stepbrother – The son of your step-parent.
Example: My stepbrother and I go to the same school.
Stepsister – The daughter of your step-parent.
Example: My stepsister is really friendly.
Half-brother – A brother who shares one parent with you.
Example: I have a half-brother from my mom’s first marriage.
Half-sister – A sister who shares one parent with you.
Example: My half-sister visits us on weekends.
Biological mother/father – Your birth parent, not adoptive.
Example: She met her biological mother at age 21.
Adoptive mother/father – The parent who adopted and raised you.
Example: His adoptive father supported him through school.
Foster parent – Someone who cares for a child temporarily.
Example: She lived with a foster family for two years.
Co-parent – A person with whom you share parenting responsibilities.
Example: We co-parent our son even though we’re not married.
Surrogate mother – A woman who gives birth to a baby for someone else.
Example: They had a child through a surrogate mother.
Partner – A person you’re in a serious relationship with (married or not).
Example: She lives with her partner and two children.
Fiancé / Fiancée – A person you are engaged to (man = fiancé, woman = fiancée).
Example: My fiancé and I are planning the wedding.
Godparents and Symbolic Family Roles
Godfather – A man chosen to guide a child spiritually or symbolically.
Example: My godfather always gives me advice.
Godmother – A woman with the same role.
Example: My godmother visited me every birthday.
Godson / Goddaughter – The child of a godparent.
Example: I bought a gift for my goddaughter.
General and Legal Family Terms
Relative – A general word for any family member.
Example: I’m visiting my relatives in Canada.
Next of kin – A legal term for your closest living family member.
Example: Please list your next of kin on the form.
Family tree – A diagram that shows your family relationships.
Example: I made a family tree for my school project.
Household – The people living in one home (family or not).
Example: There are five people in our household.
Informal and Slang Terms for Family Members
Sis / Bro – Casual words for sister and brother.
Example: My bro helped me move apartments.
Gramps / Grandma – Informal terms for grandparents.
Example: Gramps always tells funny stories.
Folks – Informal word for parents.
Example: I’m going to see the folks this weekend.
Old man / Old lady – Slang for dad or mom (can also refer to a spouse, usually jokingly).
Example: My old man still listens to vinyl records.
Quiz: Family Vocabulary Practice
1. My father has a brother. He is my ____.
a) uncle
b) cousin
c) nephew
2. Sarah is my mother’s daughter. She’s my ____.
a) niece
b) sister
c) cousin
3. I don’t have any brothers or sisters. I’m an ____ child.
a) adopted
b) only
c) older
4. My brother’s wife is my ____.
a) daughter-in-law
b) sister-in-law
c) niece
5. My grandparents’ parents are my ____.
a) ancestors
b) siblings
c) great-grandparents
6. We are twins, so we were born at the ____ time.
a) wrong
b) same
c) next
7. My wife’s mother is my ____.
a) aunt
b) stepmother
c) mother-in-law
8. He is not my full brother — we share only one parent. He’s my ____.
a) half-brother
b) stepbrother
c) godson
9. A child raised by someone who is not their birth parent is often called a ____ child.
a) god
b) foster
c) distant
10. I live with my mom, dad, and sister. They are my ____ family.
a) extended
b) real
c) immediate
Quiz Answers
1) uncle
2) sister
3) only
4) sister-in-law
5) great-grandparents
6) same
7) mother-in-law
8) half-brother
9) foster
10) immediate
