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familiar and Spanish familiar
In English
familiar
recognizable / that rings a bell
In Spanish
familiar
pariente
Spanish "familiar" means: relative
Why they get mixed up Spanish "familiar" refers to something family-related or to a relative. English "familiar" means recognizable, something that feels known or close. A relative in English is "family member" or "relative."
If you want to say...
- familiarconocido
- relativepariente o familiar
- be familiar withconocer bien
Examples
Your face looks familiar.
Tu cara me resulta conocida.
The street felt familiar.
La calle me resultaba familiar.
That song sounds familiar.
Esa canción me suena.
I'm not familiar with this software.
No conozco bien este programa.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: Estoy familiar con este programa.
Correct: Conozco bien este programa.
For "be familiar with", use conocer bien or estar al tanto de.
Incorrect: Voy a la fiesta con mis relativos.
Correct: Voy a la fiesta con mis familiares.
Relativo means relative in comparison. For family members, use familiar or pariente.
Phrases you will hear
- a familiar faceuna cara conocida
- sound familiarsonar conocido
- be familiar withconocer bien
- a familiar feelinguna sensación familiar
- a relativeun pariente
- a close relativeun familiar cercano
In a conversation
- A:
Your face looks familiar.
Tu cara me suena.
- B:
Maybe we met at the conference.
Quizá nos conocimos en la conferencia.
- A:
Are you familiar with this software?
¿Conoces bien este programa?
- B:
Yes. My relative works there.
Sí. Un pariente mío trabaja ahí.
Test yourself
"A familiar face" is a face that is...
To remember it
Familiar = recognizable/rings a bell. A relative (Spanish "familiar") = relative.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "familiar" mean?
Spanish "familiar" means "relative". It looks like the English "familiar", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "familiar" means "recognizable / that rings a bell".
Does English "familiar" mean the same as Spanish "familiar"?
Spanish "familiar" refers to something family-related or to a relative. English "familiar" means recognizable, something that feels known or close. A relative in English is "family member" or "relative."