start a family

Meaning

This expression means to have or adopt one's first child, or to begin having children with a partner. It focuses on the transition from being a couple to becoming parents. It is a warm, neutral expression used in both casual and serious conversations about life planning.

Examples

• They decided to move to the suburbs before they start a family.

  They decided to move to the suburbs before they start a family.

• Are you and Sarah planning to start a family anytime soon?

  Are you and Sarah planning to start a family anytime soon?

• Many couples wait until they are financially stable to start a family.

  Many couples wait until they are financially stable to start a family.

• They want to travel the world first, and then start a family in their thirties.

  They want to travel the world first, and then start a family in their thirties.

• Starting a family was the most rewarding decision they ever made.

  Starting a family was the most rewarding decision they ever made.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They want to start a new family next year.

  ✓ They want to start a family next year.

  Adding 'new' is redundant and sounds unnatural. The idiom 'start a family' already implies beginning a family with children.

• ✗ They married and started family.

  ✓ They married and started a family.

  You must use the indefinite article 'a' in this idiom to sound natural.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They bought a bigger house because they want to ___.

  💡 begin having children

  Show answer

  start a family

• Is it difficult to ___ when both partners work full-time?

  💡 have your first child

  Show answer

  start a family