Pronouns & Referring to family

Here is a list of the most common words for “I” and how they are used:

私【わたくし】 – Formal situations. (The official reading of the kanji 「私」 is 「わたくし」)
私【わたし】 – Normal polite situations.
僕【ぼく】 – Used primarily by males from fairly polite to fairly casual situations.
俺【おれ】 – A very rough version of “I” used almost exclusively by males in very casual situations.
あたし – A very feminine and casual way to refer to oneself; has a cutesy and girly sound.
One’s own name – Also a very feminine and kind of childish way to refer to oneself.
わし – Usually used by older men well in their middle-ages.

Referring to family members

In Japanese, you refer to members of other people’s family more politely than your own.

You would refer to your own mother as 「母」 to people outside your family but you might very well call her 「お母さん」 at home within your own family.