family member — relative
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcore
A person who is part of your family, such as your parent, sibling, child, or cousin.
Say it like a native
Textbook Several of my relations were present at the gathering.
Native A few family members were there.
'Family member' is the plain, modern phrase; 'relations' sounds dated and slightly formal.
Pattern: family member (of somebody); family members (plural)
In use
- Every family member helped prepare the meal for the holiday.family
- In my opinion, spending time with each family member is important for building strong relationships.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ She's a member of my family members.
✓ She's a family member. / She's a member of my family.
Don't combine the two — pick one phrasing.
Common collocations
family member + verb— a close family member, a family member, elderly, lose a
Don't confuse it
'Family member' is often used when talking about your immediate or extended family, while 'relative' can sometimes sound more formal.