The Power of Words

A simple choice of words can reveal our views and communicate a great deal to a listener. We encourage social workers, adoptive parents, birthparents, board members, volunteers, and supporters to use language that accurately reflects the reality of adoption. The following list is not exhaustive, but it reflects some of the more common words that we encounter as we minister to birth and adoptive parents in Jesus’ name.

Rather than.................We suggest

real parent(s).....................birthparent(s), birthmother(s), birthfather(s)
natural parent(s)................biological parent(s)
unwed mother....................single parent
real child............................birthchild
Illegitimate child................child of unmarried parents
Put up for adoption............Make an adoption plan
Give up for adoption..........Choose adoption
Is adopted........................Was adopted
Keep a child......................Parent a child
Hard to place child............Child with special placement needs
to keep a child...................to parent a child
Unwanted pregnancy........Unplanned, unintended, or untimely pregnancy
Find parents........................Search for birthparents
Foreign adoption.................International adoption


Thanks to the Bethany Christian Services website for this list.