IELTS vocabulary about relationship
Making and keeping connections is an important part of life. You might have to talk about a close friend, a family member, or a romantic partner on the IELTS test. Using more complex phrases like "get on like a house on fire" or "tie the knot" will show that you know a lot of words and help you get a higher band score.
1. Starting a Connection
When we first meet someone, the relationship starts with small steps or, in some cases, an immediate spark:
To get to know: To begin to know someone.
To strike up a relationship: To begin a friendship.
To hit it off: To quickly become good friends with someone.
To have a lot in common: To share similar interests.
To see eye to eye: To agree on a subject.
Love at first sight: To fall in love immediately when you meet someone.
2. Developing a Close Bond
Over time, friends or partners grow closer through shared experiences:
To get on well with: To understand someone and enjoy similar interests.
To get on like a house on fire: To like someone's company very much indeed.
To enjoy someone's company: To like spending time with someone.
To go back years: To have known someone for a long time.
To be well matched: To be similar to someone.
3. Romantic Relationships & Marriage
To talk about romantic journeys, from falling in love to getting married:
To fall for: To fall in love.
To be in a relationship: To be romantically involved with someone.
To fall head over heels in love: To start to love someone a lot.
To pop the question: To ask someone to marry you.
To tie the knot: To get married.
To settle down: To give up the single life and start a family.
To be just good friends: To not be romantically involved.
4. Challenges and Changes in Relationships
Not all relationships stay the same; they may need work or even end:
A healthy relationship: A good, positive relationship.
To work on a relationship: To try to maintain a positive relationship with someone.
To have ups and downs: To have good and bad times.
To fall out with: To have a disagreement and stop being friends.
To drift apart: To become less close to someone.
To break up: To end a romantic relationship.
5. Keeping in Contact
To keep in touch with: To keep in contact with someone.
To lose touch with: To not see or hear from someone any longer.
Vocabulary for IELTS: people and relationships
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| To break up | To end a romantic relationship |
| To drift apart | To become less close to someone |
| To enjoy someone's company | To like spending time with someone |
| To fall for | To fall in love |
| To fall head over heels in love | To start to love someone a lot |
| To fall out with | To have a disagreement and stop being friends |
| To get on like a house on fire | To like someone's company very much indeed |
| To get on well with | To understand someone and enjoy similar interests |
| To get to know | To begin to know someone |
| To go back years | To have known someone for a long time |
| To have a lot in common | To share similar interests |
| To have ups and downs | To have good and bad times |
| A healthy relationship | A good, positive relationship |
| To hit it off | To quickly become good friends with |
| To be in a relationship | To be romantically involved with someone |
| To be just good friends | To not be romantically involved |
| To keep in touch with | To keep in contact with |
| To lose touch with | To not see or hear from someone any longer |
| Love at first sight | To fall in love immediately you meet someone |
| To pop the question | To ask someone to marry you |
| To see eye to eye | To agree on a subject |
| To settle down | To give up the single life and start a family |
| To strike up a relationship | To begin a friendship |
| To tie the knot | To get married |
| To be well matched | To be similar to |
| To work at a relationship | To try to maintain a positive relationship with someone |
