akrabalar

Akrabalar is the Turkish term for relatives or kin, referring to people connected by blood or by marriage. The word covers both close family members and more distant relatives and is commonly used to describe an extended family network. The plural form is akrabalar.

In Turkish usage, akraba can denote a range of relations, from immediate family such as parents, siblings, and children to extended kin like grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Relatives by marriage may also be included under the broader sense of akraba, depending on context. Phrases such as yakın akrabalar (near relatives) and uzak akrabalar (distant relatives) are commonly used to differentiate levels of closeness within the kinship network.

Akrabalar play a significant role in social life and personal obligations in many Turkish communities. Kinship ties often influence decisions, mutual aid, caregiving, and participation in major life events, including weddings, funerals, and family gatherings. The strength and practices of akrabalık (kinship) can vary by region, family tradition, and economic circumstances, but the idea of a supportive family network remains an important cultural feature.

In modern contexts, urbanization, migration, and changing family structures have affected how akrabalar interact. Nonetheless, kinship networks frequently persist across generations and can extend into diaspora communities through regular contact, visiting patterns, and collective participation in celebrations and rituals.