Understanding family and kinship terms in any language is fundamental to engaging with its speakers and their culture. Lithuanian, a Baltic language with a rich history, is no exception. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the family tree in Lithianian:

Šeima
The word for “family” in Lithuanian is šeima. It embodies the concept of the family unit and is often used to represent one’s immediate family.
Mūsų šeima kartu pietų valgo kiekvieną sekmadienį. (Our family has lunch together every Sunday.)

Tėvas
The word for “father” is tėvas. It’s a word of central importance in discussing family structures and respect for parental figures.
Mano tėvas visada man patarimų duoda. (My father always gives me advice.)

Motina
To refer to “mother,” you use the word motina. It conveys the warmth and importance of the maternal role in the family.
Kiekvieną rytą mano motina man pusryčius gamina. (Every morning my mother makes me breakfast.)

Brolis
A male sibling is called a brolis. This term is vital when speaking of brothers and the bond they share.
Mano brolis yra mano geriausias draugas. (My brother is my best friend.)

Sesuo
Similarly, a female sibling is called a sesuo. It illustrates the connection between sisters or a brother and his sister.
Mano sesuo mokosi medicinos universitete. (My sister is studying at the medical university.)

Vaikas
The Lithuanian term for “child” is vaikas. It is used in a general sense for children of all genders and ages.
Jūsų vaikas labai protingas. (Your child is very smart.)

Vyras
To address a “husband,” the term vyras is used. It denotes a married man in relation to his spouse.
Jos vyras visada ją į darbą nuveža. (Her husband always drives her to work.)

Žmona
The counterpart to “husband” is “wife,” which in Lithuanian is žmona.
Mano žmona yra puiki virtuvės šefė. (My wife is an excellent head chef.)

Sūnus
To speak of a “son,” the word sūnus is appropriate. It indicates a male child in relation to his parents.
Jų sūnus studijuoja inžineriją. (Their son is studying engineering.)

Dukra
Similarly, the term for “daughter” is dukra. It is used when referring to a female child in relation to her parents.
Mūsų dukra yra sėkminga dainininkė. (Our daughter is a successful singer.)

Senelis
“Grandfather” is tenderly referred to as senelis in Lithuanian, reflecting a venerable member of the extended family.
Senelis man visada linksmas pasakojimus seka. (Grandfather always tells me fun stories.)

Senelė
To call somebody “grandmother,” one uses the word senelė, which also carries a sense of endearment and respect.
Visada aplankau savo senelę jos gimtadienio proga. (I always visit my grandmother on her birthday.)

Dėdė
An “uncle” is known as dėdė in Lithuanian—a male relative typically associated with fun and familial camaraderie.
Mano dėdė puikiai sumoka gitara. (My uncle plays the guitar really well.)

Teta
For “aunt,” you’d use the word teta. It signifies a close female relative who may share a bond similar to that of a mother.
Kiekvieną vasarą lankoju savo tetą kaime. (Every summer I visit my aunt in the village.)

Delving into these terms will help any student or enthusiast of the Lithuanian language to understand and speak about family relationships with greater confidence. Moreover, it allows for more personal and intimate conversations with Lithuanian speakers, providing a deeper insight into their family-centric culture.