🇺🇸 English · C1

People & Family in English · C1

60 English words and phrases for people & family, at C1 level. Each entry shows the word, how to read it, what it means, and a full example sentence with translation.

  1. ancestor
    ancestor

    Her ancestors came from Ireland.

    Her ancestors came from Ireland.

  2. heritage
    heritage

    They are proud of their cultural heritage.

    They are proud of their cultural heritage.

  3. guardian
    guardian

    Her aunt became her legal guardian.

    Her aunt became her legal guardian.

  4. kinship
    kinship

    They felt a deep sense of kinship.

    They felt a deep sense of kinship.

  5. nurture
    nurture

    Parents nurture their children's talents.

    Parents nurture their children's talents.

  6. patriarch
    patriarch

    He is the patriarch of the family.

    He is the patriarch of the family.

  7. estranged
    estranged

    He reconciled with his estranged brother.

    He reconciled with his estranged brother.

  8. lineage
    lineage

    The family traces its lineage to samurai.

    The family traces its lineage to samurai.

  9. doting
    doting

    He's a doting father of two.

    He's a doting father of two.

  10. matriarch
    matriarch

    She's the matriarch of the whole family.

    She's the matriarch of the whole family.

  11. descendant
    descendant

    He's a direct descendant of the town's founder.

    He's a direct descendant of the town's founder.

  12. namesake
    namesake

    The boy is his grandfather's namesake.

    The boy is his grandfather's namesake.

  13. filial piety
    filial piety

    Filial piety is deeply valued in many Asian cultures.

    Filial piety is deeply valued in many Asian cultures.

  14. dysfunctional
    dysfunctional

    They came from a pretty dysfunctional family.

    They came from a pretty dysfunctional family.

  15. codependent
    codependent

    Their relationship became codependent over the years.

    Their relationship became codependent over the years.

  16. wayward
    wayward

    She never gave up on her wayward son.

    She never gave up on her wayward son.

  17. black sheep
    black sheep

    He's always been the black sheep of the family.

    He's always been the black sheep of the family.

  18. flesh and blood
    flesh and blood

    She's my own flesh and blood.

    She's my own flesh and blood.

  19. chip off the old block
    chip off the old block

    With that temper, he's a real chip off the old block.

    With that temper, he's a real chip off the old block.

  20. golden child
    golden child

    She's always been the golden child of the family.

    She's always been the golden child of the family.

  21. skeletons in the closet
    skeletons in the closet

    Every family has a few skeletons in the closet.

    Every family has a few skeletons in the closet.

  22. next of kin
    next of kin

    The hospital called her as his next of kin.

    The hospital called her as his next of kin.

  23. hand down
    hand down

    This watch has been handed down for three generations.

    This watch has been handed down for three generations.

  24. generation gap
    generation gap

    There's a real generation gap between us and our parents.

    There's a real generation gap between us and our parents.

  25. empty nest
    empty nest

    They're adjusting to life with an empty nest.

    They're adjusting to life with an empty nest.

  26. tough love
    tough love

    Sometimes parenting means showing tough love.

    Sometimes parenting means showing tough love.

  27. reconcile
    reconcile

    It took years for them to reconcile.

    It took years for them to reconcile.

  28. heirloom
    heirloom

    This necklace is a family heirloom.

    This necklace is a family heirloom.

  29. runs in the family
    runs in the family

    A love of music runs in the family.

    A love of music runs in the family.

  30. kindred spirit
    kindred spirit

    We're kindred spirits, even though we're not related by blood.

    We're kindred spirits, even though we're not related by blood.

  31. He comes from a long line of doctors.
    He comes from a long line of doctors.
  32. She played a pivotal role in raising her siblings.
    She played a pivotal role in raising her siblings.
  33. Family always comes first for him.
    Family always comes first for him.
  34. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
    The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
  35. Family ties run deep in this town.
    Family ties run deep in this town.
  36. She juggles work and family effortlessly.
    She juggles work and family effortlessly.
  37. He finally patched things up with his cousin.
    He finally patched things up with his cousin.
  38. She's the backbone of the entire family.
    She's the backbone of the entire family.
  39. He was practically born into privilege.
    He was practically born into privilege.
  40. Their bond has weathered every storm.
    Their bond has weathered every storm.
  41. She never let her rough upbringing define her.
    She never let her rough upbringing define her.
  42. He's estranged from most of his relatives now.
    He's estranged from most of his relatives now.
  43. Their whole clan showed up for the funeral.
    Their whole clan showed up for the funeral.
  44. She carries the family name with pride.
    She carries the family name with pride.
  45. He's the only one who kept the family business alive.
    He's the only one who kept the family business alive.
  46. Blood ties don't guarantee closeness.
    Blood ties don't guarantee closeness.
  47. She raised her siblings almost single-handedly after their mother passed.
    She raised her siblings almost single-handedly after their mother passed.
  48. He's spent his whole life trying to live up to his father's legacy.
    He's spent his whole life trying to live up to his father's legacy.
  49. Their family has weathered more than most.
    Their family has weathered more than most.
  50. She's fiercely loyal to her own, no matter what.
    She's fiercely loyal to her own, no matter what.
  51. He finally found peace with his estranged father.
    He finally found peace with his estranged father.
  52. Their rivalry runs deeper than blood.
    Their rivalry runs deeper than blood.
  53. She's carried the weight of the family's expectations her whole life.
    She's carried the weight of the family's expectations her whole life.
  54. He broke the cycle his father never could.
    He broke the cycle his father never could.
  55. Family secrets have a way of surfacing eventually.
    Family secrets have a way of surfacing eventually.
  56. She's devoted her life to her children's future.
    She's devoted her life to her children's future.
  57. He never quite escaped his father's shadow.
    He never quite escaped his father's shadow.
  58. Their household ran like clockwork despite the chaos.
    Their household ran like clockwork despite the chaos.
  59. She's the one who keeps everyone else grounded.
    She's the one who keeps everyone else grounded.
  60. He finally cut ties with his toxic relatives.
    He finally cut ties with his toxic relatives.

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People & Family at other levels