How to Write about Your Family in English
Hello English learners! Today, we are going to talk about a topic that is both simple and deeply personal — your family. Whether you are writing an essay, describing your relatives for an English exam, or introducing yourself in a letter, knowing how to talk or write about your family in English is essential.
Start with a short introduction
When writing about your family, it is best to begin with a clear and simple introduction. This helps your reader understand who is in your family, where you live, and sometimes a little about your lifestyle. Keep your sentences short and easy to follow, but make them warm and personal.
You can start with a general statement and then give more details:
Example:
I’m an only child, so my parents and I spend a lot of time together. We live in a small village surrounded by fields and forests. It’s peaceful and beautiful all year round.
Tips for writing a strong introduction
Use descriptive adjectives to make your writing more vivid:
- big, small, large, lovely, noisy, quiet, peaceful, close-knit, lively, warm, supportive
Include a place or setting to give your writing context:
- in the countryside, near the coast, in a big city, in a small village, in the suburbs, by the mountains
Add personality by sharing how you feel about your family or home:
- I feel lucky to have such a caring family.
- Our home is full of laughter and good food.
- We’re not perfect, but we’re very close.
How to Write about Your Family
Describe each family member
Once you’ve introduced your family, the next step is to describe each person. This is your chance to make your writing lively and personal. Don’t just say “My mum is nice” — show why she is nice! Use adjectives, hobbies, and habits to paint a full picture of your family members.
When you describe people, think about three things:
- What they look like (appearance)
- What they’re like as a person (character)
- What they like doing (interests or hobbies)
Example:
My mother is a warm and hardworking lady. She always makes sure everyone is pleased and never forgets anybody’s birthday. She likes gardening and spending time outdoors.
Useful vocabulary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Caring | kind and helpful towards others | My mother is the most caring person I know. |
| Strict | demanding rules or discipline | My father can be quite strict about schoolwork. |
| Outgoing | friendly and sociable | My brother is very outgoing and has lots of friends. |
| Easy-going | relaxed and tolerant | My aunt is easy-going and never gets angry. |
| Reliable | someone you can depend on | My sister is very reliable – she always keeps her promises. |
| Generous | happy to give or share | My uncle is generous with both his time and his money. |
| Patient | able to wait calmly | My dad is patient and never loses his temper. |
| Stubborn | not willing to change opinions | My brother can be stubborn, but he means well. |
| Funny | makes people laugh | My grandfather is funny and loves to tell jokes. |
| Responsible | behaves sensibly and takes care of things | My cousin is very responsible and looks after her younger brother. |
How to Write about Your Family
Talk about family relationships
When writing about your family, don’t just describe what people look like or what they do — talk about your relationship with them. This shows not only your vocabulary range but also your emotional intelligence and ability to express feelings in English.
Use this part to explain how well you get along, what you enjoy doing together, and even how you deal with disagreements. Family life isn’t always perfect, and that’s perfectly fine to mention — it makes your writing sound more natural and real.
Example:
I take after my dad in many ways. We both love books, and we have the same sense of humour. Sometimes my mum says we’re like two peas in a pod!
Useful expressions & phrases
| Expression | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Get along (well) with someone | have a good relationship with someone | I get along really well with my brother. |
| Fall out with someone | argue and stop being friends for a while | I fell out with my cousin last year, but we’ve made up since then. |
| Make up | become friends again after a disagreement | We had a small argument, but we made up the next day. |
| Be close to someone | have a strong, warm relationship | I’m very close to my grandmother; we speak almost every day. |
| Take after someone | look or behave like an older family member | I take after my father — we both love cooking. |
| Have a lot in common | share similar interests or opinions | My sister and I have a lot in common; we both enjoy music and travel. |
| Be like two peas in a pod | be very similar | My twins are like two peas in a pod — they even finish each other’s sentences! |
| Look up to someone | admire and respect someone | I’ve always looked up to my grandfather for his wisdom. |
| Rely on someone | trust or depend on someone | I can always rely on my parents for support and advice. |
How to Write about Your Family
Mention family activities or traditions
One of the best ways to make your writing about family sound natural and interesting is to include the things you do together. Every family has its own little rituals — from weekly dinners to annual holidays — and these details make your writing personal and memorable.
Family activities show how you spend time with one another and reveal a lot about your values and culture. So, instead of simply listing what your relatives do for a living, talk about what brings you together.
Example:
Every summer, we go on holiday together — usually somewhere by the sea. It’s the highlight of the year for all of us. We spend our days swimming, exploring new places, and eating far too much ice cream!
Useful phrases & collocations
| Phrase / Expression | Meaning | Example sentence |
| We usually spend time together… | to describe shared activities | We usually spend time together watching films or playing cards. |
| It’s our tradition to… | to explain a repeated custom | It’s our tradition to have lunch at my grandparents’ every Sunday. |
| Every summer/winter/… we… | to show habits connected with seasons or holidays | Every summer we go on holiday to the seaside. |
| We like + -ing | to describe things you enjoy doing together | We like cooking together and trying new recipes. |
| We always celebrate… | to talk about special occasions | We always celebrate birthdays with a big homemade cake. |
| We take turns + -ing | to show how family members share duties | We take turns cooking dinner during the week. |
| We enjoy spending time… | to describe how you bond | We enjoy spending time in the garden at weekends. |
| Gather around the table | to describe eating together | We all gather around the table for Sunday lunch. |
| Keep a family tradition alive | to continue a custom over time | We still bake my grandmother’s cake recipe — it keeps our family tradition alive. |
How to Write about Your Family
End with a reflection
After describing your family, their personalities, and your traditions, it’s time to end with a reflection. This means expressing how you feel about your family and what they mean to you. A reflective ending shows maturity, emotion, and control of language — all qualities that examiners love to see in writing tasks.
- You can finish with a general comment about:
- what you’ve learned from your family,
- why they’re important to you, or
- how they’ve influenced the person you are today.
Example:
I feel incredibly lucky to have such a loving and supportive family. They’ve taught me to be kind, patient, and optimistic, and I know I can always count on them no matter what happens.
Useful phrases & expressions
| Phrase / Expression | Meaning | Example sentence |
| I feel lucky to have… | to express gratitude | I feel lucky to have such a caring and understanding family. |
| I can always count on… | to say you can depend on someone | I can always count on my sister for good advice. |
| They’ve taught me to… | to show influence or lessons learned | My parents have taught me to work hard and never give up. |
| We always stick together. | to show unity and loyalty | No matter what happens, we always stick together. |
| We support each other. | to describe emotional help | We support each other in good times and bad. |
| Family means a lot to me. | to express importance | Family means a lot to me — they’re my biggest motivation. |
| I wouldn’t trade them for the world. | an idiomatic way to express love | My family can be noisy and messy, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. |
| At the end of the day… | a phrase used before the final point | At the end of the day, family is what keeps me grounded. |
How to Write about Your Family
Writing tip
When you write about your family, use a mix of tenses (present for routines, past for memories) and adjectives to describe personality and emotions.
If it is for an exam, keep it well-organised: introduction – description – relationship – conclusion.
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