afërmit

Afërmit, meaning relatives, refers to people connected to an individual by blood or by marriage. The category includes close kin—parents, siblings, and children—and more distant relatives such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins, as well as in-laws.

Historically, afërmit form a primary social network in Albanian-speaking communities, providing support for livelihoods, care, and participation in major life events such as births, weddings, and funerals. The strength and arrangement of kinship ties vary by region, religion, urban versus rural settings, and individual family history.

Legal and economic aspects of afërmit often involve inheritance and property rights, with norms shaped by national law and customary practice. In modern times, migration, education, and changes in family structure have affected patterns of contact and obligation; some families retain close ties across long distances, while others move toward more nuclear household arrangements.

Understanding afërmit offers insight into family life, cultural continuity, and social change within Albanian-speaking communities and among the diaspora.