Vocabulary 20—Family Relationships

These are some of the words you will need to explain how the members of a family are related to one another. There are a few tricky bits. One is that the terminology for in-laws works differently as described below. A second thing to watch out for is that cousins are frequently called brothers and sisters.

Relationships Created by Marriage

муж—husband

жена́—wife

Relationships Created by Childbearing

оте́ц—father

мать—mother

сын—son

дочь—daughter

брат—brother

сестра́—sister

The In-laws

свёкор—the husband’s father, the wife’s father-in-law

свекровь—the husband’s mother, the wife’s mother-in-law

тесть—the wife’s father, the husband’s father-in-law

тёща—the wife’s mother, the husband’s mother in law

Grandparents

дедушка—grandfather

бабушка—grandmother

внук—grandchild, grandson

внучка—granddaughter

Uncles and Aunts

дядя—uncle

тётя—aunt

племянник—nephew

племянница—niece

двоюродный брат—first cousin (male)

двоюродная сестра—first cousin (female)