familia

family

noun fah-MEE-lyah Common

Origin: From Latin familia (household, servants, kin).

Usage Note

Familia is feminine and nearly always used with the definite article when referring to one's own family: la familia está bien. The adjective familiar (family-related, or familiar in the sense of well-known) is a mild false friend since English 'familiar' usually means 'known to you', while Spanish familiar more often means 'relating to family'. En familia means 'among family'.

Examples

"Toda la familia se reúne en Navidad."

Natural Translation

The whole family gathers at Christmas.

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