family history — background
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
The record or story of a person's family in the past, including their relatives, origins, and important events.
Say it like a native
Textbook Her ancestral lineage is well documented.
Native She knows a lot about her family history.
'Ancestral lineage' is genealogist jargon; 'family history' is the everyday phrase.
Pattern: family history (of something)
In use
- My grandmother often tells me stories about our family history and where our ancestors came from.family
- In my opinion, learning about your family history can help you understand your identity and where you come from.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ There is a family history of diabetes in my family.
✓ There's a family history of diabetes.
Drop 'in my family' — 'family history' already says it.
Common collocations
family history— of, a, trace your, research
Don't confuse it
A 'family tree' is a diagram showing family relationships, while 'family history' is about the stories and background.