familiar
familiar
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for the word "familiar" is /fəˈmɪliər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
fə: /fə/ - The first syllable starts with the labiodental fricative /f/ (as in "fan"), followed by the schwa /ə/ (a short, unstressed vowel sound, like the "a" in "about").
ˈmɪl: /ˈmɪl/ - The second syllable begins with the bilabial nasal /m/ (as in "man"), followed by the high front unrounded vowel /ɪ/ (as in "bit"), and ends with the alveolar lateral approximant /l/ (as in "lap"). The ' indicates the primary stress is on this syllable.
iər: /iər/ - The final syllable starts with the palatal approximant /j/ (as in "yes"), followed by the near-high near-front unrounded vowel /ɪ/ (as in "bit"), and ends with the r-colored vowel /ər/ (as in "her" with an "r" sound).
Word Form Variations
familiar (adjective): This is the base form, used to describe something well-known or easily recognized. Example: "That face looks familiar."
familiar (noun): This usage is less common, but it can refer to a close friend or associate. Example: "He's a familiar of the family." It can also, in some older or fantasy contexts, refer to a magical spirit or demon serving a witch or wizard.
familiarity (noun): This is the noun form, referring to the state of being familiar with something. Example: "I have a great familiarity with the city."
familiarly (adverb): This is the adverb form, used to modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating something is done in a familiar manner. Example: "He greeted her familiarly."
There is no standard plural form of the adjective "familiar." You wouldn't say "familiars" to describe multiple things that are well-known. If you were using "familiar" as a noun (meaning a close associate), then the plural would be "familiars." However, this usage is rare.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition: Well-known, easily recognized, or frequently encountered; closely acquainted with something; possessing a comprehensive knowledge of something. Also, informal or comfortable in manner or style.
Synonyms: Known, recognizable, recognizable, acquainted, conversant, intimate, close, informal, comfortable, easygoing.
Antonyms: Unfamiliar, unknown, foreign, strange, alien, distant, formal, reserved.
Example 1: "The tune was familiar, though I couldn't place it." (Well-known)
Example 2: "She's familiar with the local customs." (Closely acquainted)
Example 3: "He adopted a familiar tone with his boss." (Informal)
Noun:
Definition (Less common, archaic or literary): A close friend or associate; a spirit or demon believed to attend and serve a witch or wizard.
Synonyms (friend): Acquaintance, companion, confidant, intimate, associate.
Synonyms (spirit): Attendant, spirit, demon, imp, familiar spirit.
Antonyms (friend): Stranger, enemy, foe.
Example 1: "He was a familiar of the court." (Close associate)
Example 2: "The witch's familiar was a black cat." (Magical spirit)
Adverb:
Definition: In a familiar manner; informally or comfortably.
Synonyms: Informally, comfortably, easily, casually, naturally.
Antonyms: Formally, stiffly, reservedly, awkwardly.
Example: "He greeted her familiarly with a hug."
Examples of Use
Books:
"The scent of lavender was familiar, reminding her of her grandmother's garden." (Fiction - This is a hypothetical example, as specific examples from books would require copyright permissions or extensive searching. However, this structure is typical of how "familiar" is used in narrative.)
"He had become a familiar face at the local coffee shop." (Fiction - Another hypothetical example illustrating common usage.)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The candidate outlined several familiar talking points during the debate." (News article - This type of usage is very common, referring to well-known or often-repeated themes.) (Hypothetical example, as specific article citations would require extensive searching and permissions.)
"Social media algorithms can create a sense of familiarity with certain brands or influencers." (Online article about marketing or social media.) (Hypothetical example.)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The opening chords of the song were instantly familiar." (Music review or commentary - This is a typical use when discussing music.) (Hypothetical example)
"The actor's familiar delivery style was evident in his latest film." (Film review - Common usage in critiques of acting or performance.) (Hypothetical example)
"Many viewers will find the show's premise familiar." (TV or streaming service review - This suggests the show's themes or plot are similar to others.) (Hypothetical example)
General Public Discourse:
"It's a familiar story: a small business struggling to compete with larger corporations." (Everyday conversation or writing - This refers to a common and easily recognized situation.)
"I'm not familiar with that author's work." (Everyday conversation or writing - This expresses a lack of knowledge or acquaintance with something.)
"She greeted him familiarly, with a warm smile and a handshake." (Everyday conversation or writing – Here, “familiarly” is used as an adverb)
10 Famous Quotes Using Familiar
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come, let’s be familiar." — William Shakespeare, Hamlet
"Familiar acts are beautiful through love." — Percy Bysshe Shelley
"Familiarity breeds contempt." — Aesop (from Aesop’s Fables)
"The most familiar quotations are the most profound." — Voltaire
"Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. Even if they are familiar, they bear repeating." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
"In the presence of eternity, the mountains are as transient as the clouds. So why not be familiar with impermanence?" — Alan Watts
"Every reader finds himself. The writer’s work is merely a kind of optical instrument that makes it possible for the reader to discern what, without this book, he would perhaps never have seen in himself. This is why we recognize ourselves in the most unfamiliar places, and grow familiar with ourselves in the strangest." — Marcel Proust
"A man’s true delight is to do the things he was made for. He finds them familiar, as if returning home." — Marcus Aurelius
"Familiar faces are the mirrors of our souls." — Virginia Woolf
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing so gentle as real strength, made familiar through kindness." — St. Francis de Sales
Etymology
The word "familiar" comes from the Latin word familiaris. Think of it like "family-ish" or "related to family." Familiaris itself is derived from familia, which meant "household" or "family" (including servants). So, right from the start, the word has this core idea of closeness and belonging within a household.
The first known use of "familiar" in English (around the mid-14th century) carried this same basic meaning. It described someone who was a member of the household, like a servant or a close associate. It implied a close relationship, like family.
Over time, the meaning broadened. It kept that sense of close association, but it also started to mean "well-known" or "easily recognized." If something is familiar, it's like it belongs in your household, you know it well. This shift happened gradually. If you're familiar with a person, you know them well, like family. If a tune is familiar, it's as if you've welcomed it into your "house" of memories.
So, in essence, "familiar" traveled from meaning "related to family" to "belonging to one's close circle" to "well-known and easily recognized." The core idea of closeness and belonging has stayed with the word throughout its history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Familiar
Phrases (Common & Less Common):
Familiar face: This is a very common phrase, referring to someone you recognize.
Familiar ground: This refers to a place or topic you know well.
Familiar territory: Similar to "familiar ground," this emphasizes a sense of comfort and knowledge.
Become familiar with: This phrase describes the process of learning about something.
Familiar spirit: (Archaic) As mentioned before, this refers to a spirit or demon believed to serve a witch.
Familiar with (something): A common construction meaning knowledgeable about.
Why "Familiar" Isn't Ideal for Many Idioms:
Idioms often use figurative language, metaphors, or similes. "Familiar" is already fairly literal, meaning "known." It doesn't lend itself easily to the kind of imaginative leaps that create idioms. Think about idioms like "piece of cake" or "break a leg" – they use concrete images to represent abstract ideas. "Familiar" is already fairly abstract (it describes a state of knowing), so it's harder to use it metaphorically.
Creating Phrases in the Style of Idioms (Original):
Since established idioms with "familiar" are scarce, we can create some phrases that sound like idioms, playing with the concept:
Familiar as an old shoe: This evokes a sense of comfort and long-standing acquaintance.
Familiarity breeds fondness (or contempt): A twist on the original saying, exploring both positive and negative aspects of familiarity.
The familiar path: This could refer to routine or established ways of doing things.
A familiar tune: This refers to something that's easily recognized, but could also imply something repetitive or predictable.
Wrapped in the familiar: This could describe a feeling of comfort and security.
Idioms with Synonyms (For Similar Effect):
While not using "familiar" itself, these idioms capture related ideas:
Know something like the back of your hand: (Synonym: very familiar with)
Be an open book: (Synonym: easily known or understood)
A walk in the park: (Can describe something easy or familiar to do)
Home sweet home: (Evokes a sense of familiarity and belonging)
While "familiar" might not be an idiom superstar, we can still use it creatively in phrases and explore its related concepts through other idioms.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of familiar from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
