Bonds and Relationships: English Vocabulary List

a person whom one knows but is not a close friend

"She is an acquaintance."

"I recognized the man from the gym, but he was only a casual acquaintance, not a close friend."

someone's best friend, ‌used by young people on social media, especially in text messages

"She is my best friend forever."

"They have been best friend forever since childhood and trust each other completely."

a close friend

"He is my buddy."

"My old buddy from college called me yesterday after we had not spoken for five years."

a close friend or companion, typically used in a friendly manner

"My pal came early."

"He has been my closest pal since childhood and we still meet for coffee regularly."

someone or something that regularly keeps another company, providing friendship, support, or association

"She is a travel companion."

"The elderly woman adopted a dog to be her faithful companion after her husband passed away."

a person who shares the responsibilities of raising a child

"They co-parent well."

"The co-parent attended the school meeting and discussed the child’s needs."

a brother that shares only one biological parent with one

"My half-brother is older."

"Her half-brother lives in another city and visits during holidays."

a sister that shares only one biological parent with one

"My half-sister is kind."

"His half-sister called to check on the family after the trip."

someone who has the legal right to inherit the property, money, or title of a deceased individual

"The heir was chosen."

"The wealthy businessman left his entire fortune to his only heir his youngest daughter."

one's closest living relative or relatives

"The hospital asked for her next of kin."

"The hospital asked the patient to name her next of kin in case of an emergency."

a child whose parents have died

"The orphan smiled shyly."

"The orphan grew up in foster homes but eventually became a successful doctor against all odds."

(of a child or parent) related through adoption

"Her adoptive parents are nice."

"Her adoptive parents raised her with love and she has always considered them to be her real family."

representing or involving members of two different races

"He is biracial."

"The biracial child has one parent who is white and one parent who is black and he is proud of both heritages."

characteristic of a sister or like one

"She gave me sisterly advice."

"She gave me sisterly advice about my relationship and told me to trust my instincts and be honest."

(of a family or group of people) having a strong and friendly relationship with each other

"The community is tight-knit."

"The tight knit community always comes together to help families in need after a fire or flood or storm."

the people from whom a person is descended

"She knows her ancestry well."

"Researching her ancestry revealed a fascinating lineage stretching back centuries."

the end of a relationship or an association

"The breakup was painful."

"Their breakup was messy because neither wanted to move out of the apartment they shared together."

property, titles, or estates legally passed to heirs after the owner's death

"The inheritance was large."

"He wasted his entire inheritance on luxury cars and vacations within six months of receiving it."

‌the process of raising or taking care of one's child or children

"Parenting is hard."

"Good parenting requires patience consistency and the ability to set firm but loving boundaries for children."

a close relationship in which there is a good understanding and communication between people

"They had rapport."

"The teacher built rapport with the class quickly and naturally."

lasting the whole of a person's life

"They are lifelong friends."

"They are lifelong friends who met in kindergarten and have stayed close for over fifty years through good times and bad."

a close, non-romantic friendship between two men

"Their bromance is obvious."

"The bromance between the two actors was evident in their playful interviews and mutual support on set."

a male friend from one's neighborhood or social circle

"He is my homeboy."

"The homeboy helped him move the heavy furniture without complaining."

to develop a relationship with a person

"The team bonded during the retreat."

"The team bonded during the weekend retreat and became much more supportive of each other afterwards."

someone who helps or supports someone else in certain activities or against someone else

"He is my ally."

"She found an unexpected ally in her colleague during the difficult project."

a romantic or sexual partner, especially in a long-term or committed relationship

"He found his mate."

"After years of searching, he finally found his soul mate and they were married last summer."

someone who shares the same blood with a specific person who lived many years ago

"She is a descendant."

"She claims to be a direct descendant of a famous king from the sixteenth century."

(of two people, particularly in the same family) older

"My elder brother is kind."

"My elder brother is five years older than me and he always protected me from bullies when we were kids."

(of people) having a very close relationship

"They are intimate friends."

"They are intimate friends who share their deepest secrets and feelings with each other without fear of judgment."

an individual's religious or ethnic background that is passed down to them from their ancestors

"This castle is our heritage."

"UNESCO designates a World Heritage site to a landmark or area with legal protection from an international convention for its outstanding cultural or natural importance."

a subdivision or a group of members of an extended family sharing the same ancestors

"That is a branch."

"He traced his family back to a distant branch of the royal lineage."

the kinship or familial bond among male siblings

"The brotherhood was strong."

"The brotherhood among firefighters is incredibly strong because they trust each other with their lives daily."

a large group of people who are related to each other

"The Scottish clan gathered for the annual meeting."

"The Scottish clan gathered for a reunion wearing their traditional tartan kilts and playing bagpipes."

strong love and support expressed for a person or thing

"His devotion was clear."

"The devotion of the volunteers inspired everyone in the room."

to end a relationship that one was romantically involved in, often in a way that is unexpected or unfair

"He will dump her."

"She was heartbroken when her boyfriend decided to dump her without any explanation."