Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - Family and Relationships

Here you will learn some English words about family and relationships, such as "acquaintance", "branch", "compatible", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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acquaintance [noun]

a person whom one knows but is not a close friend

Ex: Networking events provide opportunities to meet new acquaintances in the professional world .

band [noun]

a group of people who come together for a particular purpose, often because they share common interests or beliefs

Ex: She was part of a band of volunteers that assisted with disaster relief efforts .

bond [noun]

a relationship between people or groups based on shared experiences, ideas, or emotions

Ex: Shared hardship can create a lasting bond between friends .

adultery [noun]

sexual intercourse involving a married person and someone other than their spouse

Ex: The scandalous affair rocked the small town , revealing a web of adultery and deceit .

affair [noun]

a sexual relationship between two people in which at least one of them is already committed to someone else

Ex: He ended the affair , realizing the damage it was causing to his marriage and family .

ally [noun]

someone who helps or supports someone else in certain activities or against someone else

Ex: He considered her his closest ally , always there to lend a helping hand in times of trouble .

ancestor [noun]

a blood relative who lived a long time ago, usually before one's grandparents

Ex: The family tree traced their ancestors back to the 1700s in Europe .

ancestry [noun]

the people from whom a person is descended

Ex: Many people use DNA tests to explore their ancestry .

branch [noun]

a subdivision or a group of members of an extended family sharing the same ancestors

Ex: Each branch of the family contributed stories and photographs to the comprehensive family history book .

clan [noun]

a large group of people who are related to each other

Ex: Each summer , the clan traveled to their ancestral homeland to reconnect with their roots and heritage .

adoptive [adjective]

(of a child or parent) related through adoption

Ex: The adoptive mother attended parenting classes to learn how to best support her child 's emotional and developmental needs .

biracial [adjective]

representing or involving members of two different races

Ex: As a biracial individual , he advocates for greater understanding and acceptance of multiracial identities in society .

to cheat on [verb]

to have a secret romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one's own partner

Ex: She was devastated when she found out her spouse had cheated on her during their vacation .

breakup [noun]

the end of a relationship or an association

Ex: She took a long vacation to help herself heal after the painful breakup with her longtime partner .

brotherly [adjective]

showing a level of love or care that one would only expect a brother to have

Ex: He gave her a brotherly hug to reassure her before the big game .

brotherhood [noun]

the feeling of understanding and friendship between people

Ex: Their shared experiences in the workplace created a strong brotherhood , making them feel like a close-knit team .

companion [noun]

someone or something that regularly keeps another company, providing friendship, support, or association

Ex: He considered his mentor a trusted companion .

companionship [noun]

the delightful feeling that one has when accompanied by people one enjoys spending time with rather than being alone

compatible [adjective]

(of two people) able to have a balanced and comfortable relationship

Ex: Compatible roommates can live together without conflict .

co-parent [noun]

a person who shares the responsibilities of raising a child

Ex: As co-parents , they prioritize open communication and mutual respect in their shared parenting duties .

custody [noun]

the legal right or responsibility to care for and make decisions regarding a child, especially after a divorce or separation

Ex: He lost custody after failing to meet court requirements .

descendant [noun]

someone who shares the same blood with a specific person who lived many years ago

Ex:

distant [adjective]

having a connection that is not close or direct, as in a remote familial or social relationship

Ex: Although they are distant acquaintances , they occasionally exchange greetings .

soulmate [noun]

the perfect romantic partner for a person

tie [noun]

a bond or connection between people, organizations, etc.

to socialize [verb]

to interact and spend time with people

Ex: Friends frequently socialize at cafes or restaurants to catch up and enjoy each other 's company .

kin [noun]

a person's family and relatives

Ex: They visited their kin every summer to stay connected .

next of kin [noun]

one's closest living relative or relatives

Ex: She designated her sister as her next of kin in case anything happened to her .

kinship [noun]

the relationship between the members of a family

parenting [noun]

‌the process of raising or taking care of one's child or children

Ex: They attended a parenting workshop to learn new strategies for managing their toddler 's behavior .

maternal [adjective]

related to or characteristic of a mother and motherhood, especially during and following childbirth

Ex: There 's a certain maternal warmth she exudes every time she talks about her newborn .

paternal [adjective]

having qualities or behaviors typically associated with a father, particularly in a caring, supportive, or protective manner

Ex: One of the most valuable pieces of paternal advice he received was to prioritize his education and never stop learning .

intimate [adjective]

(of people) having a very close relationship

Ex: They shared an intimate hug , expressing their love and affection for each other .

to inherit [verb]

to receive money, property, etc. from someone who has passed away

Ex: The family home was inherited by the youngest son after the parents ' death .

heritage [noun]

an individual's religious or ethnic background that is passed down to them from their ancestors

Ex: Understanding one 's heritage can provide a deeper sense of identity and belonging .

ex [noun]

the person one used to be married to or have a relationship with

Ex: He decided to unfollow his ex on social media to help him move on from the relationship .

exclusive [adjective]

limited to a particular person, group, or purpose

Ex: The boutique carries exclusive designer clothing lines that are not available in other stores .

to associate [verb]

to interact and spend time with someone or a group of people

Ex: The community disapproves of those who associate with the rumored troublemaker in town .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL
Family and Relationships	Stages of Life	Personal Characteristics	Feelings and Emotions
Appearance	Clothing and Fashion	Colors and Shapes	Education
Employment	Language and Grammar	The Human Body	Communication
Travel and Tourism	Transportation	Means of Transportation	The Computer World
Society and Social Issues	Healthcare and Medicine	Medical Examinations and Procedures	Physical Conditions and Injuries
Mental Disorders	Physical Disabilities and Illnesses	Geography	Space
The Environment and Weather	The Animal Kingdom	The Art World	Cinema and Theater
Music	Literature	Broadcasting and Journalism	Food and Restaurant
Diet	Agriculture and Plants	Point of View	Cause and Effect
Certainty and Doubt	Suggestions and Rules	Pride and Prejudice	Houses and Buildings
Hobbies and Games	Shopping	The Economy	The Business World
Success and Failure	Politics	Law and Order	Crime and Punishment
War and Peace	Religion	Biology, Physics, and Chemistry	Mathematics and Measurement
Engineering and Research	Athletics	Time and History