B116 words · Intermediate

Family & Friends vocabulary — B1

Family & Friends vocabulary for relationships described more precisely, including stepmother, sibling and in-laws, plus the words for how a friendship can fall apart and then be mended.

16 questions

Words in this set

adopt
/əˈdɑpt/
To legally take a child of other parents into your family as your own.
Example: They decided to adopt a child after many years of waiting.
stepmother
/ˈstɛpˌmʌðər/
The woman who is married to your father but who did not give birth to you.
Example: My stepmother collects me from school every Tuesday afternoon.
sibling
/ˈsɪblɪŋ/
A brother or a sister in the same family.
Example: I grew up with three siblings in a small flat.
bring up
To care for a child and teach them until they become an adult.
Example: She was brought up by her grandparents in the countryside.
stepfather
/ˈstɛpˌfɑðər/
The man who has married your mother but is not your birth father.
Example: Her stepfather walked her down the aisle at the wedding.
half-sister
A sister who shares only one parent with you.
Example: His half-sister was born after their parents divorced and remarried.
foster
/ˈfɑstər/
To officially look after a child in your home who is not legally your own, usually for a limited time.
Example: They decided to foster two brothers while their mother recovered.
only child
A child who has no brothers or sisters.
Example: As an only child, she never had to share a bedroom.
in-laws
/ɪnˈlɔz/
The relatives of your husband or wife, especially their parents.
Example: We're having dinner with my in-laws this weekend.
single parent
A mother or father who raises a child without a partner living in the home.
Example: She has raised her three children as a single parent.
friendship
/ˈfrɛndʃɪp/
The close relationship between people who like spending time together but are not family or a couple.
Example: Their friendship started at school and has lasted twenty years.
fall out
To stop being friendly with someone because of a disagreement.
Example: They fell out over money and haven't spoken since.
make up
To become friends again with someone after an argument.
Example: They argued yesterday but made up this morning.
close friend
A friend you know very well and trust a great deal.
Example: She's been my close friend since university.
get along
To have a friendly relationship with someone.
Example: My sister and I always get along well.
keep in touch
To continue to contact someone regularly, even when you don't see them often.
Example: We promised to keep in touch after she moved abroad.