Inklingo

How to Say "kin" in Spanish

English → Spanish

familiares

/fah-mee-lee-AH-rehs//fa.miˈlja.ɾes/

nounA1general
Use 'familiares' to refer to your relatives in general, especially in everyday conversation.
A storybook illustration showing three generations of a family: a grandmother, a mother, and a child, holding hands and smiling, symbolizing relatives.

Examples

Toda mi familia vive en la misma ciudad.

All my relatives live in the same city.

Todos mis familiares viven en la misma ciudad.

All my relatives live in the same city.

¿Cuántos familiares asistieron a la boda?

How many family members attended the wedding?

Los familiares del paciente esperan noticias afuera.

The patient's family members are waiting outside for news.

Plural Noun Rule

Even though 'familiares' can refer to a mix of men and women, the default plural form is masculine ('los familiares'), which is standard for groups of people.

Using 'Familia' instead of 'Familiares'

Mistake: “Mis familia vienen a verme.”

Correction: Mi familia (singular group) viene a verme. OR Mis familiares (plural individuals) vienen a verme. Use 'familiares' when referring to multiple individual people.

nounA2general
Use 'familia' when referring to your immediate family or as a general term for relatives, often implying a closer bond.

Examples

Voy a visitar a mi familia que vive en el extranjero.

I am going to visit my relatives who live abroad.

gente

/HEN-teh//ˈxente/

nounB1informal
Use 'gente' when referring to your extended family, clan, or a broader group of people you consider your own, often with a sense of belonging.
A warm, cozy living room where a family of multiple generations is laughing together, representing 'gente' as one's own family or community.

Examples

En Navidad, siempre voy a ver a mi gente.

At Christmas, I always go to see my family/people.

Es una persona que cuida mucho a su gente.

He/She is a person who takes great care of his/her people.

familia

/fah-MEE-lyahs//faˈmiljas/

nounA1general
Use 'familias' when talking about multiple family units or groups of relatives, rather than individuals.
A diverse family unit consisting of two parents and two children standing together and smiling happily in an outdoor setting.

Examples

Hay muchas familias grandes en mi barrio.

There are many large families in my neighborhood.

Las familias se reúnen para celebrar la Navidad.

The families gather to celebrate Christmas.

Queremos ayudar a las familias afectadas por la tormenta.

We want to help the families affected by the storm.

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).

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.

Familiares vs. Familia

The most common mistake is confusing 'familiares' and 'familia'. While both refer to relatives, 'familiares' is more general for 'kin', whereas 'familia' can mean immediate family or a broader group, often implying closer ties.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.