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famiglia
/faˈmiʎʎa/
family
La mia famiglia è molto unita.
My family is very close-knit.
neutral
A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.
Ho una famiglia numerosa.
I have a large family.
Can refer to extended family members as well.
figurative
A person or people related to and supporting one another.
La famiglia dei Medici governò Firenze per secoli.
The Medici family ruled Florence for centuries.
Often used metaphorically for dynasties or groups with shared interests.
technical
A taxonomic category below family used in biological classification.
La famiglia Felidae include i gatti.
The Felidae family includes cats.
Used in scientific contexts, especially in botany and zoology.
Collocations
famiglia allargataextended familyfamiglia nuclearenuclear familycapofamigliahead of the familyfamiglia realeroyal family
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Gender and Plural
The plural 'famiglie' is regular. 'Famiglia' is feminine and takes feminine articles (la famiglia, le famiglie).
Gold Rule
Family vs. Household
In Italian, 'famiglia' can refer to both the family unit and the household members, including non-relatives living together.
Word Origin
From Latin *familia*, derived from *famulus* (servant, slave), originally referring to the household staff and dependents of a Roman household. Over time, the meaning shifted to include blood relatives.
Usage Notes
In Italian, 'famiglia' is used broadly to include not just immediate relatives but also close friends or groups with strong bonds. The term carries a strong cultural emphasis on unity and loyalty.
Word Breakdown
famiglia
family
rootDizionario Italiano-Inglese