family

Everyday

1. A family is a group of people who are related, like parents and their children. tree →
2. A family can mean all your relatives: aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. tree →
3. In science, a family is a group of animals or plants that are alike: «the cat family». tree →
4. (casual) «Family» or «fam» (slang) can mean close friends: «you're like family», «wassup fam». tree →
5. (casual) Family words in talk: «mum/mom/ma», «dad/pop», «nan/nana/gran», «grandad/pop», «sis», «bro», «the folks», «the kids». tree →
6. (euphemism) «In the family way» (old) means pregnant; «family reasons» may hide a sad private matter. tree →
7. (formal) Forms and exams say «household», «relatives», «next of kin», «dependants» and «members of the household». tree →

In the lessons

a group of people; equal groups (families with a number of people each) or a group that shares things; in science, lions and tigers are in the cat family; phrases: «a family of four», «family tree», «family name», «family pet», «run in the family», «family size»; in casual talk «fam», «nan + 2 cousins coming», «the folks», «the whole lot of us»; in rough talk «leave my family out of it»; in the exam voice «a household of four persons», «members of the household», «per household»

Examples

• There are 4 people in Jo's family. tree →
• Each family gets 3 tickets. tree →
• 5 families came to the picnic. tree →
• The family ate 12 pies. tree →
• My family has a dog and two cats. tree →
• We drew our family tree in class. tree →
• Lions and tigers belong to the cat family. tree →
• nan + 2 cousins coming, set table for all of us (we're 3), how many forks tree →
• Wassup fam, pizza tonight? tree →
• He missed school for family reasons. tree →
• Each household of four persons is allocated 3 tickets. Compute the number of tickets allocated to 5 such households. tree →
• Leave my family out of it, mate. tree →
• There the whole family settled down. tree →

Note

Plural: families. A group word: families × members each = people. Trap: «a family of 4» counts the people, «5 families» counts the groups. Trap: in «nan + 2 cousins coming» add the people already at home. «household» in an exam means a family living together. «fam» may mean friends, not relatives.

In Jewish tradition

Often means a clan, a large branch of a tribe descended from one ancestor.

Interpretation. Tradition values family lines and tribes, and Israel's land was divided by families.

Examples

• These are the families of Reuben. (Torah EXO.6.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• These are the families of Simeon. (Torah EXO.6.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• These are the sons of Joseph after their families. (Torah NUM.26.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• These are the families of the Zorathites. (Writings 1CH.4.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. (Writings 1CH.6.45, JPS 1917) tree →
• All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Prophets ZEC.12.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: families. A group word: families × members each = people. Trap: «a family of 4» counts the people, «5 families» counts the groups. Trap: in «nan + 2 cousins coming» add the people already at home. «household» in an exam means a family living together. «fam» may mean friends, not relatives.