Members Of The Family | A Comprehensive Guide to English Family Terms

Hello, and welcome to our in-depth exploration of family members in English. Whether you’re learning English as a second language, teaching it to others, or simply curious about family relations terminology, you’ve come to the right place.

In every culture, family stands as a crucial cornerstone, but the structure of families can vary widely. This page will introduce you to an extensive list of English family member names, expanding beyond the immediate family to include a variety of relatives from every branch of the family tree.

We’ve organized this information into distinct categories, such as nuclear family, extended family, in-laws, step-family, god family, and more, to help you navigate through the fascinating web of familial relationships.

Each family member term is accompanied by a concise definition to explain their specific role or relation within the family structure.

So, whether you’re trying to differentiate between a “second cousin” and a “cousin once-removed,” or wondering what exactly a “godmother” is, we’ve got you covered!

Family Members

Nuclear Family

The term ‘Nuclear Family’ refers to a core family unit consisting of two parents and their children. Here is a list of family members that are considered part of a ‘nuclear family’:

• Mother: A woman who has given birth to a child.
• Father: A man who has fathered a child.
• Brother: A male sibling.
• Sister: A female sibling.
• Son: A male child.
• Daughter: A female child.
• Husband: A married man, in relation to his spouse.
• Wife: A married woman, in relation to her spouse.

Extended Family

‘Extended Family’ encompasses relatives that extend beyond the nuclear family. It includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Here is a list of ‘extended family’ members:

• Grandmother: The mother of one’s parent.
• Grandfather: The father of one’s parent.
• Aunt: The sister of one’s parent.
• Uncle: The brother of one’s parent.
• Cousin: The child of one’s aunt or uncle.
• Niece: The daughter of one’s sibling.
• Nephew: The son of one’s sibling.
• Granddaughter: The daughter of one’s child.
• Grandson: The son of one’s child.

Great Extended Family

‘Great Extended Family’ includes relatives that are one more generation removed than the extended family. Here is a list of ‘great extended family’ members:

• Great-grandmother: The grandmother of one’s parent.
• Great-grandfather: The grandfather of one’s parent.
• Great Aunt: The aunt of one’s parent.
• Great Uncle: The uncle of one’s parent.
• Great Niece: The niece of one’s child.
• Great Nephew: The nephew of one’s child.
• Great-granddaughter: The daughter of one’s grandchild.
• Great-grandson: The son of one’s grandchild.

In-laws

‘In-laws’ are relatives by marriage. Here is a list of family members referred to as ‘in-laws’:

• Mother-in-law: The mother of one’s spouse.
• Father-in-law: The father of one’s spouse.
• Sister-in-law: The sister of one’s spouse or the wife of one’s sibling.
• Brother-in-law: The brother of one’s spouse or the husband of one’s sibling.
• Daughter-in-law: The wife of one’s son.
• Son-in-law: The husband of one’s daughter.

Step Family

‘Step Family’ includes those who become part of the family through the remarriage of a parent. Here is a list of ‘step family’ members:

• Step-mother: The wife of one’s biological father, not one’s biological mother.
• Step-father: The husband of one’s biological mother, not one’s biological father.
• Step-brother: The son of one’s stepmother or stepfather by a previous partnership.
• Step-sister: The daughter of one’s stepmother or stepfather by a previous partnership.
• Step-son: The son of one’s spouse by a previous marriage.
• Step-daughter: The daughter of one’s spouse by a previous marriage.

Half-Siblings

‘Half-Siblings’ are siblings that share only one biological or adoptive parent. Here are ‘half-sibling’ terms:

• Half-brother: A brother who shares only one parent.
• Half-sister: A sister who shares only one parent.

Twins

‘Twins’ are siblings born at the same time from the same pregnancy. Here is the term for ‘twins’:

• Twin: One of two children born from the same pregnancy.

God Family

‘God Family’ members are individuals chosen by the parents to take an interest in the child’s upbringing and personal development. Here is a list of ‘god family’ members:

• Godmother: A woman chosen by the parents to take an interest in a child’s upbringing and personal development.
• Godfather: A man chosen by the parents to take an interest in a child’s upbringing and personal development.
• Goddaughter: A girl in relation to her godparent.
• Godson: A boy in relation to his godparent.

Foster Family

‘Foster Family’ members are individuals who temporarily take on the care of a child whose biological parents are unable to care for them. Here is a list of ‘foster family’ members:

• Foster mother: A woman who temporarily takes care of a child not biologically her own.
• Foster father: A man who temporarily takes care of a child not biologically his own.
• Foster sister: A daughter in the foster family.
• Foster brother: A son in the foster family.
• Foster son: A boy placed with a foster family.
• Foster daughter: A girl placed with a foster family.

Adopted Family

‘Adopted Family’ members are individuals who have legally taken a child into their family to be raised as their own. Here is a list of ‘adopted family’ members:

• Adopted mother: A woman who has legally adopted a child.
• Adopted father: A man who has legally adopted a child.
• Adopted sister: The daughter of one’s adoptive parents.
• Adopted brother: The son of one’s adoptive parents.
• Adopted son: A boy who has been legally adopted by his parents.
• Adopted daughter: A girl who has been legally adopted by her parents.

Removed and Distant Relatives

‘Removed and Distant Relatives’ are relatives that are further removed by multiple generations or degrees. Here is a list of ‘removed and distant relatives’:

• Second cousin: A child of one’s parent’s first cousin.
• Third cousin: A child of one’s parent’s second cousin.
• Fourth cousin: A child of one’s parent’s third cousin.
• Cousin once-removed: The child of one’s first cousin or the first cousin of one’s parent.
• Cousin twice-removed: The grandchild of one’s first cousin or the first cousin of one’s grandparent.
• Cousin thrice-removed: The great-grandchild of one’s first cousin or the first cousin of one’s great-grandparent.

Maternal and Paternal Relatives

‘Maternal and Paternal Relatives’ are relatives from the mother’s or father’s side of the family, respectively. Here is a list of ‘maternal and paternal relatives’:

• Maternal Grandmother: The mother of one’s mother.
• Maternal Grandfather: The father of one’s mother.
• Paternal Grandmother: The mother of one’s father.
• Paternal Grandfather: The father of one’s father.
• Maternal Aunt: The sister of one’s mother.
• Maternal Uncle: The brother of one’s mother.
• Paternal Aunt: The sister of one’s father.
• Paternal Uncle: The brother of one’s father.

Family Members Vocabulary Game

Resources For Teaching About Family

Questions About Family
Family Members Worksheets
Family Lesson Plan
Family Members PowerPoint
Family Members Game