IELTS collocations

Family collocations for IELTS

15 family collocations for questions about parenting, relatives, family roles and how families are changing. Each one has its meaning, an exam-style example and a register note.

Example

bring up children

Grandparents often help to bring up children when both parents work.

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Written byFizza Butool ZaidiandAli ZaidiUpdated 11 November 2026

15 collocations

Family collocations with examples

Formal pairs suit Writing Task 2. Neutral ones work anywhere. Informal ones belong in Speaking.

  1. 1.bring up children

    neutral

    care for children until they are adults

    Grandparents often help to bring up children when both parents work.

    Raise children is a slightly more formal alternative.

    Avoid: grow up children → bring up children

  2. 2.the nuclear family

    formal

    a family of parents and their children only

    The nuclear family has become the norm in most cities.

    The extended family includes grandparents, aunts and cousins.

  3. 3.the extended family

    neutral

    relatives beyond parents and children

    In my country, the extended family usually lives close together.

    Contrast with the nuclear family.

  4. 4.single-parent families

    neutral

    families with one parent raising the children

    Single-parent families often need help with childcare costs.

    Keep the hyphen. Lone parent is a British alternative.

  5. 5.working parents

    neutral

    parents who have paid jobs

    Nurseries open early to support working parents.

    Stay-at-home parent is the contrast.

  6. 6.a close-knit family

    informal

    a family whose members are very close and supportive

    I come from a close-knit family, so we meet every Sunday.

    Excellent in Speaking. Also used with community.

  7. 7.the generation gap

    neutral

    differences in attitudes between young and old people

    Technology has widened the generation gap in many families.

    Bridge and widen collocate with it.

  8. 8.set a good example

    neutral

    behave in a way that others should copy

    Parents who read at home set a good example for their children.

    Set, not give.

    Avoid: give a good example → set a good example

  9. 9.spend quality time

    neutral

    spend time together giving each other full attention

    Busy parents should still spend quality time with their children every day.

    Quality here means good, focused time.

  10. 10.do the housework

    neutral

    do cleaning, washing and other jobs at home

    In many couples, both partners now do the housework.

    Housework is uncountable. Household chores is the countable alternative.

    Avoid: do house works → do the housework

  11. 11.share household chores

    neutral

    divide home jobs between family members

    Children who share household chores learn responsibility.

    Chores is countable, unlike housework.

  12. 12.care for elderly parents

    neutral

    look after old parents who need help

    Many adults struggle to work full-time and care for elderly parents.

    Look after is more informal.

  13. 13.a strict upbringing

    neutral

    being raised with firm rules and discipline

    My father had a strict upbringing, but he is quite relaxed with us.

    Upbringing is how you were raised; it collocates with strict, happy and religious.

  14. 14.start a family

    neutral

    have your first child

    Many couples now start a family in their thirties.

    Plan to start a family is a common extension.

  15. 15.get on well with

    informal

    have a friendly relationship with someone

    I get on well with my younger brother, even though we argue sometimes.

    British. Get along well with is also correct.

Band tip

Family questions are where many learners slip into simple vocabulary such as good and nice. A few natural collocations, such as a close-knit family and set a good example, show the idiomatic awareness that the higher Speaking bands describe.

Source: the public IELTS band descriptors, summarised on ielts.org. Using these collocations will not by itself guarantee a band; accuracy and relevance matter most.

Speaking Part 3

Use it in an answer

An excerpt we wrote to show these collocations working together. Collocations from this page are in bold.

Speaking Part 3Sample excerpt

How have families in your country changed in recent years?

The biggest change is that the nuclear family has largely replaced the extended family in cities. When my parents were young, grandparents helped to bring up children, but now couples move for work and live far from relatives. There are also many more working parents, so fathers do the housework much more than they used to. I'd say families are still close, but they have to make an effort to spend quality time together.

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Frequently asked questions

Is it "grow up children" or "bring up children"?+

Bring up children. Grow up has no object: children grow up; parents bring them up.

Housework or household chores?+

Housework is uncountable (do the housework). Chores is countable (do three chores). House works is always wrong.

Which family collocations are formal enough for Writing Task 2?+

The nuclear family, the extended family, single-parent families, working parents and the generation gap all suit essays.

Can I use "close-knit" in Speaking Part 1?+

Yes. A close-knit family is a natural, accurate phrase and a good choice when talking about yourself.

Keep going

More collocations

Practise in context

Real IELTS questions to try them on

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