Who is in your family?

Your family includes the people you live with or are related to. Let’s learn the most common words for your immediate family.

• Your mum is your mother. This is an informal, common word.
• Your dad is your father. This is an informal, common word.
• Your brother is a boy or man who has the same parents as you.
• Your sister is a girl or woman who has the same parents as you.

You can use these words to talk about your own family or ask about other people’s families.

Talking about your parents and grandparents

Sometimes we use more formal words for family members, or words that include more than one person.

• Your mother is the formal word for mum.
• Your father is the formal word for dad.
• Your parents are your mother and father together.
• Your granny is your grandmother. This is an informal, common word.
• Your granddad is your grandfather. This is an informal, common word.
• Your grandmother is the formal word for granny.
• Your grandfather is the formal word for granddad.
• Your grandparents are your grandmother and grandfather together.

It is good to know both the informal and formal words for family members.

Children in the family

We also have words for young people in the family.

• A child is a young boy or girl. This is one person.
• Children is the plural form of child. It means more than one young person.

Remember that children is an irregular plural, so it does not end in ‘-s’.

How to ask about family?

You can ask simple questions to learn about someone’s family.

• To ask about brothers or sisters: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
• To ask about parents: Do you live with your parents?
• To ask about the number of family members: How many people are in your family?

These questions help you start a conversation about family.

Examples

• My mum is a doctor.
• My dad likes to cook.
• I have one brother and two sisters.
• My granny tells nice stories.
• My granddad helps me with my homework.
• My parents are very kind.
• My grandparents live in a big house.
• She has three children.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Confusing informal and formal words

Sometimes learners use informal words like mum and dad in very formal situations. It’s usually better to use mother and father in formal writing or when speaking to someone you don’t know well.

Using ‘child’ for plural

Remember that child is singular (one person), and children is plural (more than one person). Do not say two childs. The correct form is two children.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most basic family words in English for A1?

For A1, the most basic words are mum, dad, brother, and sister. You will also learn granny and granddad.

What is the difference between ‘mum’ and ‘mother’?

Mum is an informal and common word for your female parent. Mother is the more formal word. You can use mum with family and friends, but mother is better in formal situations.

How do I say ‘grandparents’ in English?

Your grandparents are your grandmother (your mother’s or father’s mother) and your grandfather (your mother’s or father’s father). Informally, you can say granny and granddad.

Why is family vocabulary important for A1 English learners?

Family vocabulary is important because it helps you talk about your personal life and understand others. It’s a common topic in everyday conversations and a fundamental part of building your basic English communication skills.

Related lessons

• Family vocabulary