Lähisukuisia

Lähisukuisia is a Finnish term used to describe people who are closely related by blood or family ties. The base noun is lähisukulainen (close relative), and the form lähisukuisia is the plural partitive used when referring to several such relatives, for example in a sentence like “lähisukuisia henkilöitä.” The exact degree of closeness that counts as lähisukuinen varies by context, but it typically covers immediate family members, such as parents, children and siblings, and may extend to other close kin such as grandparents, grandchildren, and aunts and uncles. In some contexts, even first cousins can be included or explicitly excluded depending on the purpose of the discussion.

Lähisukuisia is used across several fields. In genealogy and family history, it designates members within a compact family network. In medical genetics and hereditary risk assessments, the term emphasizes proximity in kinship when evaluating inherited conditions. In legal and ethical discussions, it can relate to rights, duties, or conflicts of interest that arise within a family cluster. Because the precise definition depends on context, writers often specify which relatives are meant when using the term.

Etymology and grammar: the word combines lähi- meaning near with sukulainen meaning relative. The form lähisukuisia signals plurality and partitive usage; the singular is lähisukulainen. The term is common in Finnish public and scholarly texts describing family relationships, kinship, and relatedness.