familia

/faˈmi.lja/
nounBeginner
formal

A group of people related by blood, marriage, or other close relationships, typically living together or having a shared history.

Mi familia es muy unida.

My family is very close.

La familia real asistió al evento.

The royal family attended the event.

💡

In Spanish, 'familia' can refer to both nuclear and extended family members.

Collocations

familia numerosalarge familyfamilia políticain-lawsfamilia adoptivaadoptive family

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

hacer familiaphrase
to start a family
familia de sangrephrase
blood relatives

💡Pro Tip

Gender Agreement

'Familia' is feminine, so adjectives describing it must agree in gender and number (e.g., 'una familia feliz').

Gold Rule

Formal vs. Informal

In formal contexts, 'familia' is used for both immediate and extended relatives, while in informal speech, it may refer only to close relatives.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'familia,' meaning 'household' or 'servants of a household.'

📝Usage Notes

'Familia' is a fundamental term in Spanish culture, often emphasizing close-knit relationships and shared values.

Word Breakdown

fam-
household, family
root
+
-ilia
plural suffix
suffix
Diccionario Español-Inglés