The ability to articulate thoughts and ideas about family and relationships plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of your essays and everyday communication. Understanding and using the correct vocabulary can help convey your thoughts precisely, adding depth and color to your writings.
Here, we present a selection of 20 relevant vocabulary words that can enrich your essays about family and relationships.
Table Of Contents
1. Kinship (noun)
Pronunciation: /kin-ship/
Definition:
A blood relationship or a bond by marriage or adoption
Example:
The kinship between us made our friendship even more special.
2. Ancestor (noun)
Pronunciation : /an-se-stor/
Definition:
A person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended
Example:
She traced her ancestors back to the 17th century.
3. Sibling (noun)
Pronunciation : /sib-ling/
Definition:
A brother or sister
Example:
I have two siblings – an elder brother and a younger sister.
4. Spouse (noun)
Pronunciation : /spous/
Definition:
A husband or wife, in relation to their partner
Example:
My spouse and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last year.
5. Offspring (noun)
Pronunciation : /off-spring/
Definition:
A person’s child or children
Example:
Their offspring will inherit their estate.
6. Foster (verb)
Pronunciation : /fos-ter/
Definition:
Encourage or promote the development of something, typically something regarded as good
Example:
They aim to foster better relations between parents and their children.
7. Guardian (noun)
Pronunciation : /gar-dee-an/
Definition:
A person who looks after and is legally responsible for someone who is unable to manage their own affairs
Example:
My aunt became my guardian after my parents passed away.
8. Estranged (adjective)
Pronunciation : /e-stranged/
Definition:
No longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated
Example:
John has been estranged from his family for years.
9. In-laws (noun)
Pronunciation : /in-laws/
Definition:
Relatives by marriage, especially the parents of a person’s spouse
Example:
My in-laws are coming to visit us this weekend.
10. Stepparent (noun)
Pronunciation : /step-parent/
Definition:
A person who is married to one’s parent after the divorce of one’s parents or the death of one of them
Example:
My stepmother has been very supportive and caring.
11. Cohabit (verb)
Pronunciation : /co-ha-bit/
Definition:
Live together and have a sexual relationship without being married
Example:
They chose to cohabit before getting married.
12. Nurture (verb)
Pronunciation : /nur-chur/
Definition:
Care for and encourage the growth or development of
Example:
Good teachers nurture the creativity in their students.
13. Adoption (noun)
Pronunciation : /a-dop-tion/
Definition:
The action or fact of legally taking another’s child and bringing it up as one’s own
Example:
They are considering adoption as an option to expand their family.
14. Monogamy (noun)
Pronunciation : /mo-nog-a-my/
Definition:
The practice or state of being married to one person at a time
Example:
Monogamy is generally the rule in human societies.
15. Kin (noun)
Pronunciation : /kin/
Definition:
One’s family and relations
Example:
He has gone to live with his distant kin.
16. Alimony (noun)
Pronunciation : /ali-mo-ny/
Definition:
A husband’s or wife’s court-ordered provision for a spouse after separation or divorce
Example:
He was ordered by the court to pay alimony.
17. Reunion (noun)
Pronunciation : /re-union/
Definition:
The process of being brought together again as a unified whole
Example:
Our family reunion is the highlight of my year.
18. Surname (noun)
Pronunciation : /sur-name/
Definition:
A hereditary name common to all members of a family, as distinct from a given name
Example:
She decided to keep her maiden surname even after marriage.
19. Upbringing (noun)
Pronunciation : /up-bring-ing/
Definition:
The treatment and instruction received by a child from its parents throughout its childhood
Example:
His strict upbringing shaped his disciplined personality.
20. Progeny (noun)
Pronunciation : /proj-en-y/
Definition:
A descendant or the descendants of a person, animal, or plant; offspring
Example:
The progeny of mixed marriages can be enriched by the best of both cultures.
With this enriched vocabulary for family and relationships, we hope that your essays will become more engaging and comprehensive.
Remember, expanding your vocabulary is a continuous journey, and consistent practice is key.
Image Credits: Photo by Ann Danilina on Unsplash
