familiari

Familiari is an Italian term that functions as both a noun and an adjective. As an adjective, it describes things connected with the family or household, as in rapporti familiari (family relations), ambiente familiare (family environment), or oggetti familiari (household items). As a noun, i familiari refers to one’s relatives or family members; the singular il familiare exists in formal or legal contexts, and the plural i familiari is used for groups of relatives in ordinary speech.

Etymology and sense development trace familiari to the Latin familiaris, meaning belonging to the household. The term has evolved in Italian to cover both kin-related meanings and broader domestic associations, with the plural form also serving as a general descriptor for kinship in plural references.

Usage notes include the emphasis on kinship and domestic ties rather than distant relations. It can contrast with parente (a more generic term for relatives) and with famiglia (the family unit as a social group). The phrase colori such as “familiari stretti” refer to close relatives, and “nucleo familiare” is a common expression for the household.

See also: famiglia, parente, nucleo familiare, rapporti familiari.

Overall, familiari is a versatile term in Italian, widely used in everyday language, legal discourse, journalism, and personal contexts to denote relatives or anything pertaining to family life.