Family and Kinship Terms And Why It's Important For Children

We explore the names of family members in different languages, from English, Malay to even Filipino and Korean.

It doesn’t come as surprise that the first role models children have, are often close family members.

While learning how to navigate the world, children look to family relationships for cues—just like how little ones often copy the gestures of mum and dad, or those of their siblings.

When children engage in family activities and get to know more about their family members (and the relationships they share), it helps them to further develop their social skills, create meaningful and healthier connections in their lives.

One great way to start is by introducing children to the various kinship terms to help foster a sense of familiarity in them.

In the rest of the article, we explore the names of family members in different languages, from English, Malay to even Filipino and Korean. Doing so also teaches them respect and manners as they would have to apply these terms appropriately and consciously to the respective family members.

Names of Family Members To Teach Children

Names of family members are often used to express endearment, and help foster closer bonds among family members, or even with the community. | Image source: iStock

English


Male	Female
Father	Mother
Husband	Wife
Grandfather	Grandmother
Great-grandfather	Great-grandmother
Son	Daughter
Brother	Sister
Uncle	Aunt
Nephew	Niece
Cousin	Cousin
Father-in-law	Mother-in-law
Son-in-law	Daughter-in-law

Mandarin


Male		Female
Father	爸爸 (bàba)	Mother	妈妈 (māma)
Husband	丈夫 (Zhàngfū) or 老公 (lǎogōng)	Wife	妻子 (Qīzi) or 老婆 (lǎopó)
Grandfather on Mum’s side	外公 (wàigōng)	Grandmother on Mum’s side	外婆 (wàipó)
Grandfather on Dad’s side	爷爷 (Yéyé)	Grandmother on Dad’s side	奶奶 (Nǎinai)
Great-grandfather	曾祖父 (Zēngzǔfù)	Great-grandmother	曾祖母 (Zēngzǔmǔ)
Son	儿子 (Érzi)	Daughter	女儿 (Nǚ’ér)
Older Brother	哥哥 (Gēgē)	Older Sister	姐姐 (Jiějiě)
Younger Brother	弟弟 (Dìdì)	Younger Sister	妹妹 (Mèimei)
Dad’s older brother	伯伯 (Bóbo)	Mum’s older or younger brother	舅舅 (Jiùjiu)
Dad’s younger brother	叔叔 (Shūshu)	Mum’s older or younger brother	舅舅 (Jiùjiu)
Dad’s older sister	姑妈 (Gūmā)	Mum’s older sister	姨妈 (Yímā)
Dad’s younger sister	姑姑 (Gūgū)	Mum’s younger sister	阿姨 (Āyí)
Nephew, Brother’s son	姪子 (zhízi)	Niece, Brother’s daughter	姪女 (zhínǚ)
Nephew, Sister’s son	外甥 (wàishēng)	Niece, Sister’s daughter	外甥女 (wàishengnǚ)
Cousin, Dad’s sibling’s son (if older than you)	堂兄 (Táng xiōng)	Cousin, Dad’s sibling’s daughter (if older than you)	堂姐 (Táng jiě)
Cousin, Dad’s sibling’s son (if younger than you)	堂弟 (Táng dì)	Cousin, Dad’s sibling’s daughter (if younger than you)	堂妹 (Táng Mèi)
Cousin, Mom’s sibling’s son (if older than you)	表哥 (Biǎo gē)	Cousin, Mom’s sibling’s daughter (if older than you)	表姐 (Biǎo jiě)
Cousin, Mom’s sibling’s son (if younger than you)	表弟 (Biǎo dì)	Cousin, Mom’s sibling’s daughter (if younger than you)	表妹 (Biǎo mèi)
Husband’s father (Father-in-law)	公公 (gōnggong)	Husband’s mother (Mother-in-law)	婆婆 (pópo)
Wife’s father (Father-in-law)	岳父 (yuèfù)	Wife’s mother (Mother-in-law)	岳母 (yuèmǔ)
Son-in-law	女婿 (Nǚxù)	Daughter-in-law	媳妇 (Xífù)
Your older sister’s husband (Brother-in-law)	姐夫 (Jiěfū)	Your older brother’s wife (Sister-in-law)	嫂子 (Sǎo zi)
Your younger sister’s husband (Brother-in-law)	妹夫 (Mèifū)	Your younger brother’s wife (Sister-in-law)	弟妇 (Dìfù)

Malay


Male		Female
Father	Bapa	Mother	Ibu
Husband	Suami	Wife	Isteri
Grandfather	Datuk	Grandmother	Nenek
Great-grandfather	Moyang	Great-grandmother	Moyang
Son	Anak Lelaki	Daughter	Anak perempuan
Brother	Saudara (frm) Abang (older) Adik (lelaki) (younger)	Sister	Saudari (frm) Kakak (older) Adik (perempuan) (younger)
Uncle	Bapa saudara (frm) Pak long (parent’s eldest brother) Pak ngah (parent’s second oldest brother) Pak ucu/pak su (parent’s youngest brother) Pak cik (generic)	Aunt	Ibu saudara (frm) Mak long (parent’s eldest sister) Mak ngah (parent’s second oldest sister) Mak ucu/pak su (parent’s youngest sister) Mak cik (generic)
Nephew	Anak saudara	Niece	Anak saudara
Cousin	Pupu (generic) Sepupu (first cousin) Dua pupu (second cousin) Tiga pupu (third cousin)
Father-in-law	Bapa mertua	Mother-in-law	Ibu mertua
Son-in-law	Menantu	Daughter-in-law	Menantu perempuan
Brother-in-law	Abang ipar (spouse’s older brother) Adik ipar (spouse’s younger brother)	Sister-in-law	Kakak ipar (spouse’s older sister) Adik ipar (spouse’s younger sister)

Tamil


Male		Female
Father	அப்பா (Appā)	Mother	அம்மா (Am’mā)
Husband	கணவர் (Kaṇavar)	Wife	மனைவி (Maṉaivi)
Grandfather	தாத்தா (Tāttā)	Grandmother	பாட்டி (Pāṭṭi)
Great-grandfather	கொள்ளுத் தாத்தா (Koḷḷut tāttā)	Great-grandmother	கொள்ளுப் பாட்டி (Koḷḷup pāṭṭi)
Son	மகன் (Makaṉ)	Daughter	மகள் (Makaḷ)
Brother	சகோதரர் (Cakōtarar)	Sister	சகோதரி (Cakōtari)
Elder Brother	அண்ணன் (Aṇṇaṉ)	Elder Sister	அக்கா (Akkā)
Younger Brother	தம்பி (Tampi)	Younger Sister	தங்கை (Taṅkai)
Maternal Uncle	மாமா (தாய் மாமா ) – Māmā (tāy māmā)	Aunty	அத்தை , சித்தி , மாமி , பெரியம்மா – Attai, citti, māmi, periyam’mā
Paternal Uncle	பெரியப்பா , சித்தப்பா – Periyappā, cittappā	Aunty
Nephew	அண்ணன் , தம்பி , அக்காள் , தங்கை – இவர்களின் மகன் Aṇṇaṉ, tampi, akkāḷ, taṅkai – ivarkaḷiṉ makaṉ (brother’s, sister’s son)	Niece	அண்ணன் , தம்பி , அக்காள் , தங்கை – இவர்களின் மகள் Aṇṇaṉ, tampi, akkāḷ, taṅkai – ivarkaḷiṉ makaḷ (brother’s, sister’s daughter)
Cousin	அத்தை , மாமா – இவர்களின் மகன் , மகள் (Attai, māmā – ivarkaḷiṉ makaṉ, makaḷ) – athai, mama’s son, daughter
Father-in-law	மாமனார் (Māmaṉār)	Mother-in-law	மாமியார் (Māmiyār)
Son-in-law	மருமகன் (Marumakaṉ)	Daughter-in-law	மருமகள் (Marumakaḷ)
Brother-in-law	மைத்துனர் (கணவரின் or மனைவியின் – அண்ணன் , தம்பி ) – maithunar (husband’s or wife’s – elder or younger brother)	Sister-in-law	நாத்தனார் or மைத்துனி (கணவரின் or மனைவியின் -அக்கா , தங்கை ) – naathanar or maithuni (husband’s or wife’s elder/younger sister)

Filipino


Male		Female
Father	ama	Mother	ina
Grandfather	lolo	Grandmother	lola
Great-grandfather	lolo sa tuhod	Great-grandmother	lola sa tuhod
Son	anak na lalaki	Daughter	anak na babae
Brother	kapatid na lalaki nakababatang kapatid na lalaki (younger brother) kuya (older brother)	Sister	kapatid na babae nakababatang kapatid na babae (younger sister) Ate (older sister)
Uncle	tiyuhin	Aunt	tiyahin
Nephew	pamangking lalaki	Niece	pamangking babae
Cousin	pinsan
Father-in-law	biyenan na lalaki	Mother-in-law	biyenan na babae
Son-in-law	manugang na lalaki	Daughter-in-law	manugang na babae
Brother-in-law	bayaw	Sister-in-law	hipag

Indonesian


Male		Female
Father	Bapak, ayah	Mother	ibu
Husband	Suami	Wife	Istri
Grandfather	grand father	Grandmother	grandmother
Great-grandfather		Great-grandmother	nenek moyang
Son	Anak laki-laki	Daughter	Anak perempuan
Brother	Kakak, abang, mas (older brother) Abang/Bang (when you call someone older) Adik laki-laki (younger brother)	Sister	Kakak, Mbak (older sister) Mbak (when you call someone older) Adik perempuan (younger sister)
Uncle	Paman	Aunt	Bibi
Nephew	Keponakan laki-laki	Niece	Keponakan perempuan
Cousin	Sepupu
Father-in-law	Ayah mertua	Mother-in-law	Ibu mertua
Son-in-law	Menantu	Daughter-in-law	Menantu perempuan
Brother-in-law	Ipar laki-laki	Sister-in-law	Ipar perempuan

Korean


Male		Female
Father/Dad	아버지/아빠 [A-buh-ji/Appa]	Mother/Mum	어머니/엄마 [Uh-muh-ni/Omma]
Husband	남편 [nampyeon]	Wife	부인 [buin]
Grandparents	조부모님 [Jo-boo-mo-nim]
Grandfather	할아버지 [Hal-ah-buh-ji]	Grandmother	할머니 [Hal-muh-ni]
Great-grandfather	증조부 [Jeung-jo-bu]	Great-grandmother	증조모 [Jeung-jo-mo]
Son	아들 [A-dul]	Daughter	딸 [Ddal]
Brothers	형제 [Hyung-jae]	Sisters	자매 [Ja-mae]
Younger Brother	남동생 [nam-dong-saeng]	Younger Sister	여동생 [yeo-dong-saeng]
Older brother (used by a younger female sibling)	오빠 [Oppa]	Older sister (used by a younger female sibling)	언니 [Un-ni]
Older brother (used by a younger male sibling)	형 [Hyung]	Older sister (used by a younger male sibling)	누나 [Nu-na]
Uncle (Your mother’s brother)	삼촌 [Saam-chon]	Aunt (Your mother’s sister)	이모 [Imo]
Uncle (Your father’s older brother)	큰아버지 [Kun-a-buh-ji]	Aunt (Your father’s sister)	고모 [Go-mo]
Uncle (Your father’s younger brother)	작은아버지 [Jakun-a-buh-ji]
Nephew/Niece (gender-neutral)	조카 [Jo-kah]
Cousin (in general)	사촌 [Sa-chon]
Father-in-law (husband’s side)	아버님 (abeonim)	Mother-in-law (husband’s side)	어머님 (eomeonim)
Father-in-law (wife’s side)	장인 어른 (jangin eoreun)	Mother-in-law (wife’s side)	장모님 (jangmonim)
Relative by marriage in-laws	사돈 (sadon)
Brother-in-law (husband’s side)	형님 (hyeongnim) 도련님 (doryeonnim) 서방님 (seobangnim)	Sister-in-law (husband’s side)	동서 (dongseo) 아가씨 (agassi)
Brother-in-law (wife’s side)	처남 (cheonam)	Sister-in-law (wife’s side)	처제 (cheoje)

We hope you have enjoyed this list of names of family members to teach children, and have picked up some useful terms. In many cultures, these terms are used to express endearment, and children who identify with family members gain a greater understanding of their place in the world.

Image source: iStock

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Written by

Jia Ling

FamilyrelationshipMarriagenames of family members