Familles

Familles is the plural form of the French word for family. In English-language contexts, the plural familias can refer to groups linked by kinship, descent, or common origin. The term appears across disciplines: biology uses it as a taxonomic rank, linguistics describes groups of related languages as language families, and sociology studies families as social units. This article summarizes these uses and their distinctions.

In biology, a family is a rank in the taxonomic hierarchy between order and genus. It groups together related genera that share similarities and a common evolutionary ancestor. Examples include Felidae (cats), Canidae (dogs), and Hominidae (great apes and humans). The boundaries of a family are not fixed and can change with new phylogenetic evidence, leading to reclassification or redefinition of groups.

In linguistics, a language family is a group of languages descended from a common proto-language. Members typically exhibit shared vocabulary, sound correspondences, and grammatical features that point to a historical connection. Well-known families include Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, and Afroasiatic. Some languages are isolates with no proven relatives, and deeper relationships among major families remain the subject of ongoing research and debate.

In sociology and anthropology, a family is a social unit that usually includes individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption and often shares residence and resources. Family structures vary widely across cultures and time, ranging from nuclear and extended families to single-parent, blended, or chosen families. Families influence socialization, caregiving, and economic support, while themselves being shaped by laws, demographics, and economic conditions.