Learn Basic English Vocabulary: FAMILY

A family may be big or small, but it is important to learn everyone’s title so you can understand how they are related to one another. From granddaughter to father-in-law, there are many words to learn and master. In this lesson, I will give you all the main vocabulary you need to identify all the members of a family. I will also teach you the difference between some formal and informal terms. You will get a chance to practise in the quiz at the end of the video at How many titles can you remember? TRANSCRIPT Hello. I’m Gill at engVid, and we have a lesson today on vocabulary connected with the family; so all the names, the family relationships, and the standard names, and also some informal names that are used within a family for different family members. Okay. So, let’s have a look. So, first of all: “mother“, a very important person. So: “mother“ is the standard name for mother, but within the family, she might be called: “mum“, or “mummy“, or “mom“. “Mom“ is a more American type of way of saying: “mum“. We say in the U.K.: “mum“, but America... In America it’s usually “mom“, so... And this one... This is a bit old-fashioned: “mamma“. So, if you’re watching an old film that’s set in the maybe 19th century, something like that, the mother might be called “mamma“, which was a bit more formal in those days. In the 19th century, in this country, anyway, children and parents were more formal in the way they spoke to each other than they are now. So, that’s “mamma“. And, also: “mater“, this is a funny one. This comes from the Latin word for “mother“: “mater“. Although, if you’re studying Latin, you might pronounce it: “mahter“, rather than: “mater“, but this was a slightly jokey name that mostly boys who went to private schools, where they studied Latin, and they were... They were living... They were residential schools, so when they came home to visit their parents, they would call their mother “mater“ and their father “pater“. That’s “pater“, there; the Latin names for mother and father. I think it was a little bit jokey, and they’re not really used so much now. Okay, so let’s move on. “Father“ is the standard word for “father“, but he could be called: “dad“, or “daddy“, “pop“. Don’t ask me why: How can it change to “Pop“? Don’t know. “Pop“, “pops“; then “papa“ is the equivalent of “mama“, so those... Again, that’s old-fashioned, 19th century; very formal: “mama“, “mama“, “papa“. And “pater“, the Latin version of it. Okay. So then we have: “brother“, if you have a brother, they could be called in a very informal way: “bro“. Not many people use this, but some people do. “Bro“. So, the first three letters of “brother“: “bro“. Or: “bruv“. “Brother“, but “bruv“, like a “v“. That comes from the sort of London accent; the Cockney London accent where Cockneys, instead of pronouncing “th“: “brother“, they make a “v“ sound instead: “bruver“, “bruver“. So, that comes from that. “Bruv“, “bruv“. Okay, and then a female... These are called “siblings“, by the way. Siblings. If you have brothers and sisters, they are called siblings. So, a “sister“, “sister“ is the standard word; it can be shortened to “sis“ in an informal way. Okay. And then you have “uncle“ who could be the brother of your father or the brother of your mother. It’s the same word for both; there’s no difference. Maybe in some languages you have different words for that, but “uncle“ is the brother of either your mother or your father. And there’s no... As far as I know, there’s no short, informal version of “uncle“. But with “aunt“, which is the female version-so the sister of your mother or the sister of your father-there is - there’s: “auntie“, so you just add “ie“ at the end. “Auntie“. And just to mention, that in India, these words: “uncle“ and “aunt“, or “auntie“ are used as a term of respect. So, we don’t do that in the U.K.; we only use these for the actual family relative. We don’t... You know, if there’s an older person, we wouldn’t automatically call them “auntie“ or “uncle“. We might say... I don’t know what you’d say. “Sir“ or “madam“, or something, if you’re being very formal; but not “uncle“ or “auntie“. Okay. That’s in India. Maybe in some other countries as well; I don’t know. Please put in the comments if you know a bit more about that. Okay, so then: “nephew“ and “niece“ are the next pair. This is the male version and the female version. So, a “nephew“ is the son of your brother or sister. Okay. So, if you have a brother or sister who has had some children, the brother’s son or the sister’s... Your brother’s son or your sister’s son is your nephew. Okay? And there’s no... As far as I know, there’s no informal word for that. And then the “niece“ is the female version, so your brother’s daughter or your sister’s daughter is your niece. Okay? So: “nephew“ and “niece“; male, female. […]