Why is Family Vocabulary Important in English?

Knowing family vocabulary is very useful for A2 English learners. It helps you talk about your life and understand others.

• Daily Conversations: You can introduce your family members and ask about other people’s families.
• A2 Key Exam: In the speaking part of the A2 Key exam, you might need to describe a picture of a family or answer questions about your own family. Using the correct words shows you can communicate well.

Your Immediate Family: Core Words

These are the people in your closest family unit:

• Mother: Your female parent.
• Father: Your male parent.
• Parents: Your mother and father.
• Son: Your male child.
• Daughter: Your female child.
• Children: Your sons and daughters.
• Brother: A male with the same parents as you.
• Sister: A female with the same parents as you.
• Siblings: Your brothers and sisters.
• Husband: A man who is married.
• Wife: A woman who is married.

Your Extended Family: More Connections

These words describe other relatives in your family:

• Grandmother (or grandma, granny): Your mother’s mother or father’s mother.
• Grandfather (or grandpa, grandad): Your mother’s father or father’s father.
• Grandparents: Your grandmother and grandfather.
• Aunt: Your mother’s sister or father’s sister. Also, your uncle’s wife.
• Uncle: Your mother’s brother or father’s brother. Also, your aunt’s husband.
• Cousin: The child of your aunt or uncle. This word is for both male and female.
• Grandson: The son of your son or daughter.
• Granddaughter: The daughter of your son or daughter.
• Grandchildren: Your grandsons and granddaughters.

How to Use Possessive ‘s with Family Members

To show that something belongs to a family member, or to show a relationship, we use ‘s.

• This is Maria’s sister. (Maria has a sister.)
• My father’s name is David. (The name belongs to my father.)
• Are these your grandparents’ photos? (The photos belong to your grandparents.)

Remember, for plural nouns ending in -s, we just add the apostrophe: my parents’ house.

Examples

• My mother is a teacher.
• His father works in an office.
• They have two children, a son and a daughter.
• My brother is older than me.
• She lives with her sister.
• My grandparents live in a big house.
• My aunt and uncle are coming to visit.
• I have many cousins.
• Her husband is very kind.
• His wife likes to read.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Common Mistakes with Family Vocabulary

Spanish speakers sometimes make these mistakes:

• Parents vs. Relatives: In Spanish, ‘parientes’ means ‘relatives’ (family members in general). In English, parents means only your mother and father.
  • Wrong: My parents are my aunt and uncle.
  • Right: My relatives are my aunt and uncle. OR My parents are my mother and father.
• Son vs. Sun: These words sound similar but have different meanings. Son is a male child. Sun is the star in the sky. Be careful with pronunciation and spelling.
  • Wrong: The sun is playing in the garden.
  • Right: My son is playing in the garden.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ‘grandma’ and ‘granny’?

Both grandma and granny mean grandmother. Grandma is very common and friendly. Granny is also friendly but can sound a little older or more traditional, often used by young children. Both are correct.

How can I talk about my family in the A2 Key exam?

In the A2 Key speaking exam, you might be asked to describe your family. Use the vocabulary you learned here. For example, you can say: I have one brother and one sister. My mother is a doctor. Or, if you see a picture of a family, you can say: I see a mother, a father, and two children.

Are there other words for ‘parents’?

The most common and correct word for your mother and father is parents. Sometimes, in very informal situations, people might say folks, but parents is always best for A2 level.

Related lessons

• Family vocabulary
• Family vocabulary
• Family vocabulary