60+ English words for family members

There are all kinds of families in the world: big, small, close-knit, and distant. Here’s all the English vocabulary you need to talk about your own unique family!

Immediate family

Your immediate family (sometimes called your nuclear family) are your close relatives, or family members.

In the U.S.—as in many English-speaking regions—this typically includes:

English Meaning parent the person who raises or cares for a child, such as a mother or father mother female parent (somewhat formal) father male parent (somewhat formal) stepparent your parent’s spouse when the parent remarries stepmother female stepparent stepfather male stepparent spouse the person you’re married to wife female spouse husband male spouse partner a gender-neutral term used for someone in any long-term relationship sibling someone with the same parent(s) as you sister female sibling brother male sibling twins two siblings who were born at the same time triplets three siblings who were born at the same time twin sister your female sibling who was born at the same time as you twin brother your male sibling who was born at the same time as you half sibling sibling who shares one parent half sister female half sibling half brother male half sibling stepsibling your stepparent’s child stepsister your stepparent’s female child stepbrother your stepparent’s male child child the person who makes you a parent, such as your son or daughter daughter female child son male child stepchild your partner’s child from a previous relationship stepdaughter female stepchild stepson male stepchild

Names for your immediate family

Like in many languages, there are plenty of ways to refer to members of your immediate family in English! Mother and father are relatively formal, but there are plenty of other options:

Family member Common nicknames mother mom, mommy, momma, mama mum, mummy (more common outside the U.S., such as in the U.K. and Australia) father dad, daddy, papa stepmother stepmom stepfather stepdad child kid

Child is an irregular noun. The plural form is children.

Note that all the above terms for children can be used both for young people and for adults, sometimes referred to as grown children or adult children.

Extended family

Your extended family are relatives beyond your immediate family. This includes the family members below:

In the U.S.—as in many English-speaking regions—this typically includes:

English Meaning grandparent your parent’s parent grandmother female grandparent (somewhat formal) grandfather male grandparent (somewhat formal) grandchild your child’s child granddaughter your child’s daughter grandson your child’s son in-laws your spouse’s family mother-in-law your spouse’s mother father-in-law your spouse’s father sister-in-law your spouse’s sister brother-in-law your spouse’s brother aunt (also pronounced aunt) the sister of your parent uncle the brother of your parent cousin the child of your aunt or uncle niece your sibling’s daughter or the daughter of your spouse’s sibling nephew your sibling’s son or the son of your spouse’s sibling

Names for your extended family

Just like the nicknames for parents, there are plenty of names you might call some members of your extended family!

Family member Common nicknames grandmother grandma, nana, grammy, granny grandfather grandpa, granddad, gramps, pops aunt auntie (especially common in some regions and cultural groups)

Notice the following plurals: mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law.

It is common to use aunt and uncle followed by the person’s name. For example, if your uncle’s name is Arthur, you would call him Uncle Arthur. Similarly, if your aunt’s name is Jessie, you would call her Aunt Jessie.

One big happy family! 

Your family is likely one of the most important things in your life. Now you’re ready to talk about them with confidence!