Learn Basic Family Words in English (Pre-A1 Vocabulary)

Raúl Maguiña

Fondateur de Langcom | Examinateur pour les examens de Cambridge et du SIELE

juillet 16, 2026

PRE-A1📚 Vocabulary⏱️ 3 min read
Learning basic English words for family members helps you talk about the people you love. You can introduce your mum et dad, or talk about your brother et sister. These words are very common and important for daily conversations. We also learn words for grandparents, like granddad et granny. Knowing these simple words is a great first step to speaking English. You can use them to describe your family or understand when others talk about theirs. It makes communication much easier and more personal. Start with these words to build your English vocabulary foundations.

What are the most common family words?

When you talk about your immediate family, these words are very useful.

  • Mum: This is a short, common word for ‘mother’.
  • Dad: This is a short, common word for ‘father’.
  • Brother: This is a boy or man who has the same parents as you.
  • Sister: This is a girl or woman who has the same parents as you.

These words are easy to remember and use every day.

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How do you talk about grandparents?

Grandparents are the parents of your parents. Here are simple words for them:

  • Granddad: This is a short, common word for ‘grandfather’.
  • Granny: This is a short, common word for ‘grandmother’.

You might also hear grandma for ‘grandmother’. Both granny et grandma are common.

Why learn family vocabulary?

Learning family words is important for many reasons.

  • You can introduce your family to new friends.
  • You can understand stories about other people’s families.
  • It helps you feel more comfortable speaking English.

These words are a basic part of English conversation.

Basic Family Words in English
English Word Meaning
Mum Mother (informal)
Dad Father (informal)
Brother A male sibling
Sister A female sibling
Granddad Grandfather (informal)
Granny Grandmother (informal)

Exemples

  • My mum is happy.
  • My dad likes to read.
  • I have one brother.
  • She has a sister.
  • My granddad tells funny stories.
  • My granny bakes cakes.

Entraînement

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Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Confusing Brother et Sister

Sometimes, Spanish speakers might confuse brother (male) and sister (female). Remember:

  • Brother = boy/man (like ‘hermano’)
  • Sister = girl/woman (like ‘hermana’)

Using Formal Words Too Much

In everyday English, we often use informal words for family. For example:

  • Correct: My mum is kind. (Instead of ‘My mother is kind.’)
  • Correct: My dad works hard. (Instead of ‘My father works hard.’)

Mum et dad are very common and natural.

Questions fréquemment posées

What is the difference between ‘mum’ and ‘mother’?

Mum is an informal and common way to say mother. Both are correct, but mum is used more in daily conversations.

Can I use ‘grandma’ instead of ‘granny’?

Yes, both granny et grandma are common and correct informal words for grandmother.

Are these words only for young people?

No, people of all ages use these words to talk about their family members. For example, an adult can say my mum or my dad.

Related lessons

À propos de l'auteur : Raúl Maguiña

Raúl Maguiña est le directeur de l'Asociación Educativa Langcom, un centre agréé de préparation à l'examen Cambridge English situé à ÉTATS-UNIS. Fort de plus d'une décennie d'expérience dans l'enseignement des langues et les certifications internationales, il a aidé des milliers d'étudiants, d'enseignants et d'établissements d'enseignement dans 25 pays à obtenir les certifications d'anglais Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL et Michigan.

En savoir plus sur le Langcom →

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