Family and Relationships: English Vocabulary List

a close relationship between two or more people characterized by trust, loyalty, and support

"Their friendship is deep."

"True friendship is not about how often you see each other but about being reliable and supportive when your friend faces difficult times."

the state of being a mother to a child or children

"Motherhood is rewarding."

"Motherhood can be both rewarding and exhausting at the same time."

the state of being a father to a child or children

"Fatherhood is challenging."

"Fatherhood often changes how a man thinks about responsibility and time."

the formal and legal relationship between two people who are married

"Their marriage was happy."

"Marriage is a legal and social contract that involves both emotional commitment and practical responsibilities such as sharing finances and household duties."

not having a legal or official romantic partner

"He is unmarried now."

"The unmarried woman focused on her career and traveled around the world."

not living with one's spouse or partner anymore

"They are separated."

"The separated couple decided to live apart while they figured things out."

a woman who is about to be married or has recently been married

"The bride smiled brightly."

"The bride entered the hall slowly and smiled at everyone."

a man who is getting married

"The groom waited patiently."

"The groom looked nervous as he waited at the altar but his face lit up with joy when he saw his bride walking down the aisle."

a male or female partner in a marriage

"Her spouse is here."

"Your spouse should be your partner in life meaning you make important decisions together rather than one person controlling everything without discussion."

a person who raises a child or children without a partner

"A single parent struggles."

"Being a single parent is challenging because you must fulfill both parental roles while also working enough to provide financial stability for your children."

a person who has no siblings

"She is an only child."

"Being an only child can sometimes mean more attention but also more independence."

a chart, showing the relationship between all the members of a family over a long period of time

"The family tree grew."

"We traced the family tree back several generations to understand our relatives more clearly."

someone who is the mother of a person's wife or husband

"My mother-in-law visited."

"My mother-in-law always cooks delicious meals for us every Sunday when we visit her house together."

someone who is the father of a person's wife or husband

"My father-in-law is here."

"My father in law helped me repair the roof because he used to work as a carpenter before retiring and still has all his old tools."

the person who is the sister of one's spouse

"My sister-in-law called."

"His sister in law borrowed his car without asking and returned it with an empty gas tank which caused a minor argument between them."

the person who is the brother of one's spouse

"My brother-in-law lives nearby."

"The brother in law organized a surprise fishing trip for the entire family but nobody caught anything except for a single tiny fish."

the wife of one's daughter or son

"Our daughter-in-law is kind."

"Their daughter in law prepared an elaborate dinner for the family gathering impressing everyone with her culinary skills and warm hospitality."

the husband of one's son or daughter

"My son-in-law is a doctor."

"The elderly couple was thrilled that their son in law had been promoted because they knew it meant more financial security for their daughter and grandchildren."

‌the parents of one's spouse

"My parents-in-law visited."

"Meeting your parents in law for the first time can be stressful because you want them to approve of you and see that you treat their child well."

an immediate and intense romantic attraction that one feels upon seeing someone for the first time

"It was love at first sight."

"When I saw her across the crowded room it was truly love at first sight for me."

a person who is related to someone by blood or marriage

"She is a relation."

"During the family reunion, she reconnected with a distant relation she had not seen in over twenty years."

any connection between people by kinship or marriage

"Their relationship is good."

"Building a healthy relationship requires honest communication mutual respect and a willingness to compromise during disagreements according to relationship counselors."

a family member who is related to us by blood or marriage

"She is a relative."

"My favorite relative always brings the best homemade cookies whenever they come to visit us."

having formally agreed to marry someone

"She is engaged."

"The engaged couple picked a date for their wedding next summer."

a group of people belonging to a particular age group or time period partaking in a certain activity

"Each generation changes."

"Each generation faces different challenges shaped by the economic technological and social conditions that exist during their formative years of development."

to leave someone with no intention of returning

"Do not abandon your responsibilities."

"The mother was forced to abandon her child at the orphanage due to extreme poverty and lack of support."

to look after a child until they reach maturity

"They bring up kids."

"Her grandparents decided to bring up their grandchildren after their parents passed away unexpectedly."

to be sexually unfaithful to one's partner by engaging in romantic or intimate activities with someone else

"He decided to cheat."

"He was devastated to learn that his girlfriend had decided to cheat on him with his best friend."

to abandon one's wife, husband, or partner with no plan of returning

"He will leave his family."

"The father decided to leave his wife and children without any explanation or intention of returning."

to end the relationship or live apart from a partner

"The couple agreed to separate peacefully."

"They decided to separate after realizing they wanted different things from their marriage and future."

sharing a strong and intimate bond

"They are close friends."

"The two sisters shared a remarkably close bond, confiding in each other about everything."

being connected through family ties or marriage

"We are related."

"We are related because my grandmother is your grandfather's cousin."