Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about family and friends.
Example: My _____ is the son of my aunt. (cousin / nephew / brother)
Answer: My cousin is the son of my aunt.
Family and Friends: Essential Vocabulary for Beginners
Do you want to talk about the people in your life? In this lesson, you will learn important English words for family and friends. These are some of the most useful words in everyday English. You will learn how to name family members, describe relationships, and talk about the people who are important to you.
Meet the Johnson Family
Read this short story. It will help you understand the vocabulary in context.
My name is Emma. I live with my parents — my mother and my father. I have one sister and one brother. My grandparents live near us. My grandmother makes wonderful food! I also have a best friend called Mia. She is very kind. We go to school together every day.
Now let's look at the key vocabulary from this story and more useful words for talking about family and friends.
Key Vocabulary and Meaning Breakdown
1. Immediate Family Members
These are the people in your closest family — the people you often live with or see every day.
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| mother | noun — a female parent | My mother works in a hospital. | Informal: mum (British English) |
| father | noun — a male parent | My father cooks dinner on Sundays. | Informal: dad |
| parents | noun (plural) — your mother and father together | My parents are very kind. | Singular = parent |
| sister | noun — a female sibling (same parents as you) | I have one sister. Her name is Lucy. | Older sister / younger sister |
| brother | noun — a male sibling (same parents as you) | My brother is ten years old. | Older brother / younger brother |
| child | noun — a young person; also a son or daughter | They have one child — a little girl. | Plural = children |
| son | noun — a male child | Their son is five years old. | Opposite = daughter |
| daughter | noun — a female child | Their daughter goes to school. | Opposite = son |
| husband | noun — a man who is married | Her husband is a teacher. | Opposite = wife |
| wife | noun — a woman who is married | His wife works in a shop. | Opposite = husband |
| baby | noun — a very young child | My aunt has a new baby. | Plural = babies |
2. Extended Family Members
These are family members who are not in your immediate family, but they are still important relatives.
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| grandmother | noun — your mother's or father's mother | My grandmother lives in the countryside. | Informal: grandma or nan |
| grandfather | noun — your mother's or father's father | My grandfather tells great stories. | Informal: grandad |
| grandparents | noun (plural) — your grandfather and grandmother | We visit our grandparents at the weekend. | Use grandparents for both together |
| aunt | noun — your parent's sister | My aunt lives in London. | Opposite = uncle |
| uncle | noun — your parent's brother | My uncle has a big car. | Opposite = aunt |
| cousin | noun — the child of your aunt or uncle | My cousin is the same age as me. | Can be male or female |
| relative | noun — any family member | We have many relatives in Ireland. | Also: relation |
| family | noun — a group of people who are related | I love spending time with my family. | Can mean just parents and children, or a larger group |
3. Friends and Social Relationships
These words help you talk about friends and the people around you.
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech and Meaning | Example Sentence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| friend | noun — a person you like and spend time with | Tom is my best friend. | Best friend = your closest friend |
| classmate | noun — a person in your class at school | My classmate helps me with English. | Not always a close friend |
| neighbour | noun — a person who lives near you | Our neighbour is very friendly. | British spelling: neighbour |
| colleague | noun — a person you work with | My colleague is very helpful at work. | For adult learners and work contexts |
| partner | noun — a person you have a romantic relationship with; also a business partner | She lives with her partner. | Can be boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife |
| person | noun — a human being (man, woman, or child) | She is a very nice person. | Plural = people |
Collocations and Useful Expressions
A collocation is two or more words that go together naturally. Learn these common collocations for talking about family and friends.
have + a big / small family
I have a big family. There are six people in my house.
live + with your family
I live with my family in Manchester.
spend time + with friends / family
I love to spend time with my friends at the weekend.
visit + relatives / grandparents
We visit our relatives every Christmas.
make + friends
It is easy to make friends at school.
best + friend
Anna is my best friend. We talk every day.
close + family / friend
She is a close friend. I tell her everything.
get + married
My sister wants to get married next year.
grow up + with / in
I grew up with my three brothers in a small town.
look after + someone
My grandmother looks after my baby brother.
Important Differences and Confusing Words
Mum, Mother, or Parent?
Mother is the formal or general word for your female parent.
My mother is a doctor. (formal or written English)
Mum is the informal, everyday British English word. You use this when you speak to or about your mother in casual conversation.
My mum makes great soup. (everyday spoken English)
Parent means either a mother or a father. It is a general word. Use parents (plural) to talk about both together.
My parents both work in the city.
Friend vs Acquaintance
Friend is someone you know well, like, and spend time with.
Jake is my friend. We play football together every week.
Acquaintance is someone you know, but not very well. You do not spend a lot of time with this person. (This word is for higher levels, but it is useful to know the idea.)
I know her face, but she is just an acquaintance — not a real friend.
Child vs Children
Child is singular — it means one young person.
She has one child.
Children is the plural of child. Note: we do NOT say childs.
They have three children.
Older vs Elder
When talking about siblings (brothers and sisters), British English often uses elder.
Older is more common in everyday speech and is always correct.
My older brother is twenty years old.
Elder is slightly more formal and is often used in set phrases like my elder sister.
My elder sister lives in London.
Common Mistakes
❌ I have two childs.
✅ I have two children. — The plural of child is children, not childs.
❌ My mum and dad is at home.
✅ My mum and dad are at home. — Use are with plural subjects like mum and dad.
❌ She is my cousin sister.
✅ She is my cousin. — In English, we just say cousin. We do not add sister or brother.
❌ I live with my family since ten years.
✅ I have lived with my family for ten years. — Use have lived and for with a length of time.
❌ My father name is David.
✅ My father's name is David. — Use an apostrophe + s to show possession in English.
❌ She is a very good friend of me.
✅ She is a very good friend of mine. — Use of mine / of yours / of his, not of me.
Family and Friends: Quick Summary and Review
Well done! In this lesson, you have learnt the most important English words for talking about family and friends. Here is a quick summary of what you studied:
- Immediate family words: mother, father, parents, sister, brother, son, daughter, husband, wife, baby, child
- Extended family words: grandmother, grandfather, grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousin, relative, family
- Friends and social words: friend, best friend, classmate, neighbour, colleague, partner, person
- Key collocations: spend time with, make friends, live with your family, visit relatives
- Important rules: The plural of child is children. Use are with plural family members. Say cousin, not cousin sister or cousin brother.
Remember, talking about your family and friends is one of the first things people do when they meet someone new. Practise using these words every day — describe your family to a friend, or write a few sentences about the people you love.
Now practise your family and friends vocabulary in the exercises below.
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