Vocabulary/ B1 Vocabulary lessons and / Relationships – B1 English Vocabulary
Relationships Vocabulary
Learn essential terms to describe personal connections and relationship stages in English
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will learn terms used to describe different types of relationships, as well as verbs, verb phrases, and phrasal verbs used to talk about different stages or events that occur in relationships. Check the following pictures and look at the definitions and descriptions below.
Types of Relationships (B1 Level)
Vocabulary chart showing relationship types: acquaintance, close friend, partner, ex, flatmate, etc.
Verbs & Phrasal Verbs About Relationships
Infographic showing actions in relationships: get to know, hang out, break up, propose, etc.
Relationship Vocabulary
Types of relationships
an acquaintance
Someone you know but is not a close friend.
He’s just an acquaintance—I’ve only met him a few times.
a close friend
A person you spend a lot of time with and share personal matters.
Maria is my close friend—we tell each other everything.
your best friend
Your closest friend, often like family.
Tom has been my best friend since primary school.
a colleague / co-worker
A person you work with. 'Colleague' is more formal; 'co-worker' or 'workmate' is informal.
I have lunch with my colleagues every day.
a flatmate
A person you share an apartment or flat with.
My flatmate and I share the rent and cooking duties.
a couple
Two people in a romantic relationship.
That couple over there just got engaged!
a wife
A married woman.
His wife works as a doctor.
a husband
A married man.
Her husband cooks dinner every night.
a partner
A person you are married to or having a relationship with.
They’ve been partners for ten years.
an ex
A person you were once in a relationship with. You can also say ex-boyfriend, ex-wife, etc.
My ex and I are still friends.
a date
A person you are meeting because you have or want to have a romantic relationship. Also the appointment itself. If you’ve never met, it’s a blind date.
I have a date tonight at 8 p.m.
Verbs & phrasal verbs
get to know (someone)
To learn about someone’s personality, life, and interests over time.
We got to know each other at university.
get on well (with someone)
To have a friendly and harmonious relationship with someone.
I get on well with my sister-in-law.
hang out (with someone)
To spend relaxed, informal time together—e.g., watching movies, chatting, or walking.
We usually hang out at the weekend.
go out with (someone)
To be in a romantic relationship or date someone regularly.
She’s been going out with Mark for six months.
have a crush on (someone)
To have strong romantic feelings for someone, often temporary or unspoken.
He had a crush on his teacher in Year 10.
propose (to someone)
To ask someone to marry you.
He proposed to her on a beach in Greece.
get married
To enter into a legal or formal union as spouses.
They got married last summer in a small ceremony.
break up (with someone)
To end a romantic relationship.
They broke up after three years together.
have an affair
To have a secret romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than your partner.
He lost his job after it was discovered he was having an affair with a colleague.
keep in touch
To continue communicating and maintaining a relationship after separation.
We moved to different countries but still keep in touch.
lose touch
To stop communicating or seeing someone regularly.
We were close in school, but we lost touch after graduation.
fall out (with someone)
To have a serious argument that damages a relationship.
She fell out with her best friend over a misunderstanding.