Lesson 1 – Family
Let’s begin our study of collocations by learning some common expressions about the family. Your parents and siblings (brothers and sisters) are your immediate family – and your extended family includes all your relatives – uncles, cousins, great-aunts, etc.
You can use a family tree to diagram the relationships among your family members. A person who is related to you by a long series of connections can be called a distant relative.
If you’re lucky, you have a loving family or a close-knit family – these expressions refer to a family that has good relationships, where everyone loves each other and helps each other. If you were raised in a loving family, then you probably had a carefree childhood – that means you had nothing to worry about when you were young.
On the other hand, a family in which the relationships are bad or unhealthy can be called a dysfunctional family. If the children experience abuse, poverty, or problems with the law, we can say they had a troubled childhood.
Perhaps the parents went through a bitter divorce – that means a separation in which there were bad/angry feelings between the husband and wife. It’s also possible to have a messy divorce, with a prolonged legal battle involving lots of conflicts about the separation of the former couple’s assets (money and possessions). The decisions about the separation of assets are made in the divorce settlement. A family in which there are divorces or separations is sometimes called a broken home.
Sometimes the mother and father fight over custody of the children– that refers to who has the primary responsibility of caring for the kids. A judge can grant joint custody – that means the ex-husband and ex-wife share the responsibility – or sole custody to only one parent. For example, a judge might award sole custody to the mother, and the father has to pay child support– regular payments to help with expenses for the kids.
If it was a mutual divorce/separation – that means the ex-husband and ex-wife agreed to separate without fighting – then they will probably stay on good terms with each other (meaning to have a polite relationship without conflicts).
If a woman gets pregnant without being married or in a relationship, then she will become a single mother. Some women in this situation choose to have an abortion, and others prefer to give the baby up for adoption. The time when the baby is planned to arrive is called the due date –you can also say the baby is due in mid-October, for example.
After the woman has the baby (or gives birth to the baby), the baby is given to the adoptive parents, who will raise the child or bring up the child as if it was their own. Sometimes, when the adopted child is older, he or she tries to find their birth mother (biological mother) .
Lesson 1 – Family خانواده
Immediate family: People who are very closely related to you, such as your parents, children, brothers and sisters
خانواده ی درجه اول
Extended family: A family group consists not only of parents and children but also of grandparents; aunts etc. (= nuclear family)
خانواده پرجمعیت
Family tree: A drawing that gives the names of all the members of a family over a long period of time and shows how they are related to each other (= genealogy)
شجره نامه
Family members: A person in the family
اعضای خانواده
Distant relatives: Distant cousin is a person who is not a first cousin, but is a second, third, etc. cousin
اقوام درجه دوم یا دور
Loving family or close-knit family: A close-knit group of people is one in which everyone knows each other well and gives each other support when they need it
خانواده صمیمی
Carefree childhood: without worry or responsibility
دوران کودکی بی دردسر کودکی بی دغدغه
Dysfunctional family: A family with parent-child–conflicts, domestic violence, mental illness, single parenthood, or ‘external’–alcohol or drug abuse, gambling, unemployment—influences that affect the basic needs of the family unit
خانواده ی پردردسر
Troubled childhood: A difficult time or situation where there is a lot of disagreement and problems
دوران کودکی پردردسر کودکی پردغدغه
Bitter divorce: A very bad situation that separation can happen
جدایی تلخ
Messy divorce: complicated and unpleasant to deal with
طلاق ناخوشایند
Divorce settlement: An official agreement or decision that ends an argument or the action of making an agreement
طلاق توافقی
Broken home: A family in which the parents are divorced or separated
خانواده ی از هم پاشیده
Custody of children: Protection, care, keeps safe
حضانت فرزند
Grant joint custody: A decision by the court (often up on agreement of the parents) that the parents will share custody of a child. (Both parents have it)
حضانت مشترک یا شریکی و اشتراکی
Sole custody: Only one parent has it
حضانت تک والد
Award sole custody: Give the protection of child to a person
اعطای حضانت به شخص ثالث
Pay child support: Pay money for protecting somebody
پرداخت نفقه
Mutual divorce or separation: agree on separating
طلاق توافقی
On good terms with each other: Have a good relationship with each other
داشتن رابطه خوب با هم
Get pregnant: Have a baby in future
باردارشدن
Single mother: not being in a relation
مادرمجرد
Have an abortion: Stop having a baby or kill a baby due to many factors
سقط جنین
Give the baby up for the adoption: Put the baby away that others take the responsibility of it and raise the baby
سر راه گذاشتن فرزند
Due date (baby is due): The date with is definite or the date which is defined
موعد مقرر یا سررسید
Has the baby (give birth to the baby): Deliver the baby
به دنیا آوردن فرزند/ زایمان
Adoptive parents: Those parents who take the responsibility of other’s children and grow them up
پدر و مادر ناخوانده/ والدین ناخوانده
Raise the child or bring up the child: Grow the children
پرورش فرزند
Adopted child: The child of other families for another one
فرزند خوانده
Birth mother: The real mom that delivered the child
مادر طبیعی
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More Examples:
1: Award Sole Custody:
A court may award sole custody to a mother because the father has a history of substance abuse that endangers the child’s well-being.
In a custody battle, a judge grants sole custody to the father after determining that the mother is frequently absent and does not prioritize the child’s needs.
2: Pay Child Support:
A father is required to pay a monthly sum to the mother after their divorce, as stipulated in their custody agreement.
A mother is ordered to pay child support after a court reviews the income and living expenses of both parents and decides she has the greater financial capacity.
3: Mutual Divorce or Separation:
A couple agrees to a mutual divorce after realizing they’ve grown apart and decide to amicably divide their assets and co-parent.
Two partners choose to separate without filing for divorce, opting to live apart and share parenting responsibilities while maintaining a friendly relationship.
4: On Good Terms with Each Other:
After their divorce, a couple continues to celebrate their child’s birthdays together, creating a positive environment for their children.
Two ex-partners maintain friendly communication regarding parenting schedules and regularly check in on each other’s well-being for the sake of their children.
5: Get Pregnant:
A couple starts trying to conceive and successfully gets pregnant after several months of efforts and tracking ovulation cycles.
After deciding to expand their family, a woman unexpectedly discovers she is pregnant shortly after they start trying.
6: Single Mother:
A woman becomes a single mother after her partner decides to leave the relationship during her pregnancy.
An unplanned pregnancy leads a young woman to embrace the role of a single mother, focusing on raising her child while completing her education.
7: Have an Abortion:
A woman decides to have an abortion after discovering that her pregnancy is unplanned and she feels unprepared emotionally and financially to raise a child at this time.
After consulting with her doctor and considering her options, a woman chooses to have an abortion due to health concerns that could complicate her pregnancy.
8: Give the Baby Up for Adoption:
A young mother decides after much thought to give her baby up for adoption, believing it is in the child’s best interest to be raised in a stable two-parent household.
After discovering she is pregnant, a woman reaches out to an adoption agency to find a loving family for her baby, feeling that adoption is the best decision for both her and the child.
9: Due Date (Baby is Due):
The expectant parents mark their calendar, eagerly awaiting the due date, which they have calculated as March 15th, and prepare their home for the arrival of their baby.
A couple attends their final prenatal appointment and learns that the baby is due in just two weeks, prompting excitement and some last-minute preparations.
10: Has the Baby (Give Birth to the Baby):
After hours of labor, the mother finally gives birth to a healthy baby girl, filling the hospital room with joy and tears of happiness.
During an intense delivery, a woman successfully has her baby with the support of her partner and healthcare team, experiencing a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration afterward.
11: Adoptive parents
A loving couple who have struggled with infertility becomes adoptive parents, welcoming a baby boy into their home and hearts, ready to create a family.
After years of being foster parents, a pair of adoptive parents finalize the adoption of their three children, celebrating their commitment to nurture and support them as a permanent family.
12: Raise the Child or Bring Up the Child:
The couple is deeply committed to raising their child with love and support, prioritizing education and emotional well-being as they navigate parenthood together.
A single mother works multiple jobs to provide for her child, determined to bring up her child in a safe environment and instill strong values.
13: Adopted Child:
The adopted child feels loved and cherished in their new home, where the adoptive parents celebrate their unique background and encourage them to connect with their roots.
An adopted child learns about their adoption story and embraces it, appreciating the journey that brought them to their current family.
14: Birth Mother:
The birth mother, after making a difficult decision, finds peace knowing her child is in a loving home with adoptive parents who will provide a stable life.
A birth mother attends an open adoption meeting where she shares her story, feeling empowered by her choice to give her child the best future possible.
Lesson 1 Quiz
Circle the best word to complete each sentence:
