Indian languages often distinguish relatives that English lumps together. Your father's brother and mother's brother have separate names in Hindi; in English both are simply "uncle".
The core words
- Immediate: parents, mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter
- Extended: grandparents, uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece
- By marriage: husband, wife, in-laws
Note that cousin covers all genders and both sides of the family. There is no "cousin brother" in standard English — that phrase is Indian English. Say "my cousin" and add detail if needed.
In-laws
- mother-in-law, father-in-law
- brother-in-law, sister-in-law
- The plural adds -s to the first word: "my brothers-in-law"
Describing your family
- "There are five of us."
- "I'm the youngest of three."
- "I have an elder brother and a younger sister."
- "We live with my grandparents."
- "I'm the only child."
Talking about what they do
- "My father worked in the railways — he's retired now."
- "My sister's doing her masters."
- "My wife teaches at a school nearby."
A cultural note
Questions about family that are ordinary in India — marital status, children, why not yet — can feel intrusive in other cultures. When speaking with people from elsewhere, let them raise the subject before you ask.
"Do you have any family here?" is a safe, open question. "Are you married?" is not always.
