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familias

/fah-MEE-lyahs/

families

A diverse family unit consisting of two parents and two children standing together and smiling happily in an outdoor setting.

This image represents the most common meaning of familias: groups of relatives.

familias(Noun)

fA1

families

?

groups of relatives

,

households

?

people living in one house

Also:

kin

?

general term for relatives

📝 In Action

Hay muchas familias grandes en mi barrio.

A1

There are many large families in my neighborhood.

Las familias se reúnen para celebrar la Navidad.

A1

The families gather to celebrate Christmas.

Queremos ayudar a las familias afectadas por la tormenta.

A2

We want to help the families affected by the storm.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • parientes (relatives)
  • hogares (homes/households)

Common Collocations

  • familias monoparentales – single-parent families
  • familias numerosas – large families (often a legal term)

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Plural

Since 'familia' is feminine, its plural form 'familias' must use feminine articles and adjectives, like 'las familias' (the families) or 'muchas familias' (many families).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'el' instead of 'la'

Mistake: "Los familias son importantes."

Correction: Las familias son importantes. The word 'familia' is always treated as feminine, even though it refers to both men and women.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Big Picture

In Spanish, 'familia' refers not just to parents and children, but often includes extended relatives like grandparents, uncles, and cousins.

Three distinct, separated groups of objects on a table: a pile of red apples, a pile of orange carrots, and a pile of small wooden tools, illustrating categorization.

Familias can also refer to scientific or linguistic groups or categories, like types of objects.

familias(Noun)

fB1

families

?

groups or categories (scientific/linguistic)

,

types

?

classifications or groupings

Also:

classes

?

taxonomic groups

📝 In Action

El español y el francés pertenecen a la familia de lenguas románicas.

B1

Spanish and French belong to the family of Romance languages.

Estudiamos las diferentes familias de insectos en biología.

B2

We study the different families of insects in biology.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • grupos (groups)
  • categorías (categories)

Common Collocations

  • familias lingüísticas – linguistic families
  • familias de palabras – word families

💡 Grammar Points

Figurative Use

When used in science or language, 'familias' means a collection of related items that share a common origin, just like human families share relatives.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: familias

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'familias' in its figurative, scientific meaning?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'familia' is singular or plural?

'Familias' is the plural form and always ends in -as. 'Familia' is the singular form, ending in -a. Listen for the article: 'la familia' (one family) vs. 'las familias' (many families).