Learn family words list to describe your kinship in English. Understand the importance, variations, and usage of different words to deepen your familial vocabulary.
What Are Family Words? Family words describe kinship. They are a crucial part of our everyday vocabulary. They help express and define the intricate relations that exist within our families.
Michael J. Fox phrased it perfectly when he said, “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.“
In America alone, there are 128.45 million households. So, how can we differentiate the people who live within them and alongside us?
Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, knowing as many words as possible will make you a stronger writer, and should you be describing a family in your work, you need to understand all of the available terms.
Want to be more vivid in your writing? Check out our list of 400 descriptive words now!
Contents
110+ Family Words List You Need to Know
| Brother | Stepdaughter-in-law | Birth Child |
| Child | Stepson-in-law | Birth Parent |
| Close Relative | Uncle-in-law | Foster Family |
| Daughter | Aunt | Genitor |
| Father | Binuclear Family | Intended Family |
| Granddaughter | Cousin | Surrogate Family |
| Grandfather | First Cousin, Once Removed | Step-Aunt |
| Grandmother | Fourth Cousin | Step-Brother |
| Grandson | Grandfather | Step-Grandfather |
| Husband | Grandmother | Step-Grandmother |
| Immediate Family | Great-Aunt | Step-Nephew |
| Loved Ones | Great-Grandfather | Step-Niece |
| Mother | Great-Grandmother | Step-Sister |
| Next of Kin | Great-Nephew | Step-Uncle |
| Parent | Great-Niece | Stepfather |
| Sibling | Great-Uncle | Stepmother |
| Sister | Menage Group | Ancestry |
| Son | Nephew | Blood |
| Spouse | Niece | Bloodline |
| Wife | Second Cousin, Once Removed | Clan |
| Aunt-in-law | Second Cousin | Descent |
| Brother-in-law | Third Cousin | Dynasty |
| Cousin-in-law | Uncle | Family Tree |
| Daughter-in-law | Adopted Brother | Folk |
| Ex-in-laws | Adopted Cousin | Genealogy |
| Father-in-law | Adopted Daughter | House |
| Fiancé | Adopted Nephew | Household |
| Fiancée | Adopted Sister | Kin |
| Grandfather-in-law | Adopted Son | Kindred |
| Grandmother-in-law | Adoptive Aunt | Kinfolk |
| Mother-in-law | Adoptive Father | Lineage |
| Nephew-in-law | Adoptive Grandfather | Offspring |
| Niece-in-law | Adoptive Grandmother | People |
| Partner-in-law | Adoptive Kin | Race |
| Sister-in-law | Adoptive Mother | Regime |
| Son-in-law | Adoptive Niece | Succession |
| Step-in-law | Adoptive Uncle | Tribe |
Immediate Family Words
Immediate family refers to the closest blood relatives. Often, they form a household. You might also be interested in our list of poetic words.
1. Brother
My brother is a talented musician.
2. Child
Every child is a bundle of joy and a source of immense happiness.
3. Close Relative
Lana is a close relative but is not fond of attending family functions.
4. Daughter
Their daughter is very good at painting.
5. Father
My father is a professor at a local university.
6. Granddaughter
Your granddaughter has a keen interest in wildlife and loves to explore nature, doesn’t she?
7. Grandfather
My grandfather tells the most fascinating stories about his youth.
8. Grandmother
My grandmother makes the best apple pie.
9. Grandson
The Peterson’s grandson is a brilliant student and excels in math.
10. Husband
Her husband is a renowned architect in the city.
11. Immediate Family
When I say immediate family, I refer to anyone’s parents, siblings, partners, and children.
12. Loved Ones
Loved ones is an affectionate way of referring to those people in your life who are very important to you — blood or not.
13. Mother
I learned a lot of life values from my mother.
14. Next of Kin
In legal terms, your next of kin inherits your property when you don’t have any last will.
15. Parent
Her parent always encourages Anna to pursue her dreams and goals.
16. Sibling
His sibling is his best friend – they share everything.
17. Sister
His sister often goes shopping alone.
18. Son
His son is a high school sophomore.
19. Spouse
His spouse shares my love for adventure and travel.
20. Wife
His wife is an accomplished chef and runs her restaurant.
In-Laws Family Words
This category in family words refers to family members related by marriage. Check out our list of words of encouragement.
21. Aunt-in-law
Our aunt-in-law is a gifted painter; her artworks adorn the walls of our home.
22. Brother-in-law
My brother-in-law is a passionate photographer.
23. Cousin-in-law
Her cousin-in-law works as a wildlife conservationist.
24. Daughter-in-law
Sheila’s daughter-in-law designed our beautiful vacation home.
25. Ex-in-laws
Though they’ve separated, Angie’s ex-in-laws maintain a cordial relationship with her.
26. Father-in-law
His father-in-law is a retired army officer.
27. Fiancé
Roro’s fiancé wants a grand wedding.
28. Fiancée
I heard you’ll introduce us to your fiancée on Christmas.
29. Grandfather-in-law
My grandfather-in-law has a great sense of humor. He always keeps us entertained at family gatherings.
30. Grandmother-in-law
Her grandmother-in-law’s traditional recipes are out of this world.
31. Mother-in-law
I share a warm relationship with my mother-in-law. I heard it’s rare these days.
32. Nephew-in-law
Our nephew-in-law is a rising entrepreneur in the tech industry.
33. Niece-in-law
Since their niece-in-law is a violinist, melodies often fill their family gatherings.
34. Partner-in-law
His partner-in-law is a devoted horticulturist. Their garden looks like something out of Eden!
35. Sister-in-law
Her sister-in-law teaches English at a community college.
36. Son-in-law
Our son-in-law is a dedicated doctor – he’s in the hospital 24/7.
37. Step-in-law
My step-in-law gets the family closer.
38. Stepdaughter-in-law
Their stepdaughter-in-law is a dedicated social worker.
39. Stepson-in-law
I heard you’re looking for furniture designs. Tonton’s stepson-in-law is a skilled carpenter.
40. Uncle-in-law
My uncle-in-law is a renowned historian. He’s the best at presenting engaging lectures.
Extended Family Words
Extended family words point out family connections beyond the immediate family.
41. Aunt
My aunt doesn’t care about her siblings. I don’t want to be like her.
42. Binuclear Family
I think our binuclear family is pretty awesome. We enrich our collective experience every day!
43. Cousin
I think my cousin’s life goal is not to do anything. She spends her life lazing about.
44. First Cousin Once Removed
Rei’s first cousin, once removed, is an archaeologist. He often lets Rei tag along when they’re digging.
45. Fourth Cousin
Ah, here’s the infamous fourth cousin who only shows up when she needs something.
46. Grandfather
I didn’t have the opportunity to bond with my grandfather since he died early.
47. Grandmother
It’ll be great if I can make a biography of my grandmother.
48. Great-Aunt
Her great-aunt is a retired teacher who instilled in me a love for literature.
49. Great-Grandfather
Our great-grandfather’s agricultural innovations still impact our family business today.
50. Great-Grandmother
My great-grandmother is a bad woman. I don’t like talking about her.
51. Great-Nephew
Their great-nephew is a prodigious musician, mesmerizing listeners with his guitar skills.
52. Great-Niece
His great-niece is a promising young artist. He has already won many accolades at ten years old.
53. Great-Uncle
Our great-uncle is a World War II veteran.
54. Menage Group
Our menage group includes a variety of relatives from different generations. This setup promotes intergenerational understanding and strengthens our family bond.
55. Nephew
A rocket is a perfect gift for his nephew since he’s very interested in astronomy.
56. Niece
Unfortunately, their niece doesn’t have any talent in the piano.
57. Second Cousin Once Removed
Lisa’s second cousin, once removed, is a star in the culinary world.
58. Second Cousin
His second cousin is an eco-warrior. She often goes on unintelligible spiels though.
59. Third Cousin
Mary’s third cousin is a professional dancer and choreographer.
60. Uncle
My uncle didn’t do a great job in raising his children.
Adoptive Family Words
These words describe family relationships with one or more adopted family members.
61. Adopted Brother
John and his adopted brother play football every weekend – they’re very close.
62. Adopted Cousin
My adopted cousin and I share a love for adventure novels.
63. Adopted Daughter
The Burn’s adopted daughter is an aspiring chef, so they’re doing their best to send her to a great culinary school.
64. Adopted Nephew
His adopted nephew volunteers at the local animal shelter.
65. Adopted Sister
Luna’s adopted sister is great with kids; she’ll be a great kindergarten teacher someday.
66. Adopted Son
Have you seen the paintings of Hamilton’s adopted son? He makes amazing landscapes!
67. Adoptive Aunt
It’s a shame – their adoptive aunt doesn’t care for them at all.
68. Adoptive Father
It’s a good thing his adoptive father has always been very supportive.
69. Adoptive Grandfather
Our adoptive grandfather shares fascinating stories from his younger days.
70. Adoptive Grandmother
The chocolate chip cookies made by our adoptive grandmother are the best.
71. Adoptive Kin
Each Christmas, our adoptive kin look forward to their unique gifts.
72. Adoptive Mother
His adoptive mother is one of the best cooks I’ve met in my entire life.
73. Adoptive Niece
Roy’s adoptive niece is as flexible as a rubber band. She’ll be a great gymnast, for sure.
74. Adoptive Uncle
You should try my adoptive uncle’s homemade wine; they are the best!
75. Birth Child
The agency suggested that it’s best to adopt a child younger than your birth child if you have one.
76. Birth Parent
While I cherish my adoptive family, I still respect my birth parent.
77. Foster Family
My foster family provided me with a warm and nurturing environment.
78. Genitor
My genitor, though not present in my daily life, is still a part of who I am.
79. Intended Family
She believes that her intended family is not defined by blood relations.
80. Surrogate Family
Throughout college, his friends became his surrogate family. They supported and made him feel like he belonged.
Step Family Words
Step-family words refer to the family relationships formed when a parent remarries.
81. Step-Aunt
Her new step-aunt is a famous painter. So much so that celebrities commission her for portraits.
82. Step-Brother
She doesn’t like her step-brother – he teases her and always calls her names.
83. Step-Grandfather
Having a step-grandfather is fun; he tells me tales of war whenever I visit.
84. Step-Grandmother
His new family doesn’t come with a step-grandmother.
85. Step-Nephew
I guess you can call him my step-nephew, given the circumstances.
86. Step-Niece
Her step-niece is a figure skater. She already won many competitions.
87. Step-Sister
Do you think all step-sisters are like those from Cinderella?
88. Step-Uncle
His step-uncle always asks him to come to the shop to help out.
89. Stepfather
His stepfather is a professional golfer. He’s not around much.
90. Stepmother
Her stepmother works in the fashion industry. She promised her an instant position in her company once she graduates.
More Family Words
Often, family doesn’t only refer to blood relations or connections forged by marriage. Below are more words referring to family or a close relation to others:
91. Ancestry
My ancestry traces back to Vikings.
92. Blood
We share the same blood, but that is not enough to pardon her sins.
93. Bloodline
Despite our diverse interests and pursuits, we are from the same bloodline.
94. Clan
I find it amusing that there’s a member of our clan in each country we visit.
95. Descent
My descent from a long line of scholars instilled a deep love for learning.
96. Dynasty
The Tang dynasty is often considered the greatest dynasty in Chinese history. Why? During this time, people enjoy stability and further their skills and learning.
97. Family Tree
Studying our family tree helps us understand our characteristics and traits.
98. Folk
We’re not blood-related, but we’ve been together for decades. They are my folk, and I love them so much.
99. Genealogy
Our genealogy is rich with captivating stories of our ancestors’ accomplishments.
100. House
Many know the house of Noa, our family surname, for its philanthropic acts.
101. Household
Our household, home to three generations, is a bustling hub of activity.
102. Kin
Someone from their kin always visits the late boss’ grave.
103. Kindred
My kindred share a strong bond. We promised to support each other through thick and thin.
104. Kinfolk
My kinfolk, despite having diverse professions, have a shared passion for music.
105. Lineage
Zan comes from a lineage of doctors and nurses but wants to be a cook.
106. Offspring
As the offspring of two artists, I inherited a deep appreciation for the visual arts.
107. People
No matter what happens, he will choose what’s best for our people.
108. Race
Our family welcomes everyone and anyone – doesn’t matter the age, sex, or race.
109. Regime
My grandfather’s regime? I remember it as a period of extreme discipline and tradition.
110. Succession
Our family succession has always honored the eldest child as the head of the family.
111. Tribe
We refer to our extended family as our “tribe.”
