Familliar vs. Familiar — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 20, 2024
"Familliar" is incorrect, while "Familiar" is the correct spelling, denoting something well-known or easily recognized.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Familliar or Familiar
How to spell Familiar?
Familliar
Incorrect Spelling
Familiar
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Associate with the saying, "I am familiar," to remember there's one 'l' after 'a'.
Memorize this: Double 'm', single 'l' makes it real.
Picture the word "liar" at the end; you don't want to "lie" about the spelling.
Think of "mili" in the middle, not "milli."
Recall "family" but with only one 'l'.
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How Do You Spell Familiar Correctly?
Incorrect: The smell was familliar to him, like his mother's cooking.
Correct: The smell was familiar to him, like his mother's cooking.
Incorrect: His voice sounded familliar, but I couldn't place it.
Correct: His voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.
Incorrect: Familliar faces in the crowd made her feel at home.
Correct: Familiar faces in the crowd made her feel at home.
Incorrect: It's important to become familliar with the safety procedures.
Correct: It's important to become familiar with the safety procedures.
Incorrect: She had a familliar feeling as she walked through the old neighborhood.
Correct: She had a familiar feeling as she walked through the old neighborhood.
Familiar Definitions
Known from frequent presence or study.
Her face was familiar, but I couldn't recall her name.
Frequently encountered or seen.
Cats are a familiar sight in that alley.
Being on informal or friendly terms.
They are familiar with the local customs.
Overly bold or forward.
He made a familiar comment that was inappropriate.
Well known from long or close association
A familiar voice
Their faces will be familiar to many of you
In close friendship; intimate
She had not realized they were on such familiar terms
A demon supposedly attending and obeying a witch, often said to assume the form of an animal
Her familiars were her two little griffons that nested in her skirts
A close friend or associate.
(in the Roman Catholic Church) a person rendering certain services in a pope's or bishop's household.
Often encountered or seen
A familiar landmark.
Having fair knowledge; acquainted
Are you familiar with these roads?.
Of established friendship; intimate
We are on familiar terms.
Natural and unstudied; informal
Lectured in a familiar style.
Taking undue liberties; presumptuous
Students should not be familiar toward an instructor.
Familial.
Domesticated; tame. Used of animals.
An attendant spirit, often taking animal form.
One who performs domestic service in the household of a high official.
A person who frequents a place.
Known to one, or generally known; commonplace.
There’s a familiar face; that tune sounds familiar.
Acquainted.
I'm quite familiar with this system; she's not familiar with manual gears.
Intimate or friendly.
We are on familiar terms now; our neighbour is not familiar
Don’t be familiar with me, boy!
Of or pertaining to a family; familial.
(witchcraft) An attendant spirit, often in animal or demon form.
The witch’s familiar was a black cat.
(obsolete) A member of one's family or household.
A member of a pope's or bishop's household.
(obsolete) A close friend.
(historical) The officer of the Inquisition who arrested suspected people.
Of or pertaining to a family; domestic.
Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures.
Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration.
That war, or peace, or both at once, may beAs things acquainted and familiar to us.
There is nothing more familiar than this.
Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate.
An intimate; a companion.
All my familiars watched for my halting.
An attendant demon or evil spirit.
A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.
A person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support
A person who is frequently in the company of another;
Drinking companions
Comrades in arms
A spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard
Well known or easily recognized;
A familiar figure
Familiar songs
Familiar guests
Within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange;
Familiar ordinary objects found in every home
A familiar everyday scene
A familiar excuse
A day like any other filled with familiar duties and experiences
(usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly;
Conversant with business trends
Familiar with the complex machinery
He was familiar with those roads
Having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship;
On familiar terms
Pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders
Familiar Meaning in a Sentence
She became familiar with the city after exploring it for a week.
I'm familiar with the rules of the game.
He looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen him.
The teacher's voice is familiar to all the students.
It's a good idea to get familiar with the local laws when you travel.
That feeling of excitement before a trip is very familiar to me.
Becoming familiar with your car's dashboard lights can prevent accidents.
This song sounds familiar. Have you played it before?
The smell of freshly baked bread is familiar and comforting.
Are you familiar with this type of work?
She found a familiar comfort in her grandmother's stories.
Seeing familiar landmarks can help you navigate a new city.
The actor's face is familiar, but his name escapes me.
The concept might seem complex at first, but it will become more familiar over time.
His explanation made the complex topic familiar and understandable.
The layout of the new software quickly became familiar to me.
I'm not familiar with that author; could you tell me more about them?
He has a familiar way of laughing that's easy to recognize.
This textbook looks familiar; I think I used it in my class last year.
Familiar routines can be comforting in times of stress.
Getting familiar with your garden's plants can make you a better gardener.
It's difficult to get familiar with a new language.
She wore a familiar smile that warmed the room.
A familiar scent can instantly take you back to a moment in your past.
I enjoy visiting familiar places that hold special memories.
Familiar Idioms & Phrases
Familiar territory
An area or subject with which someone is well acquainted.
For a seasoned traveler, navigating a busy airport is familiar territory.
Too familiar
Acting in a way that is overly friendly or not respecting someone's personal space.
The new colleague was too familiar, asking personal questions on the first day.
Make oneself familiar with
To learn about something so that it becomes well known to you.
He made himself familiar with the new software before the meeting.
Familiar face
A person that one recognizes from particular social circles or from previous encounters.
At the reunion, it was comforting to see so many familiar faces.
Old familiar
Something well known and comforting, often because it has been around for a long time.
The old familiar song brought back memories of their college days.
Strike a familiar chord
To elicit memories or feelings that one has experienced before.
The movie's theme of friendship struck a familiar chord with many in the audience.
On familiar terms
Having a close and informal relationship with someone.
They were on familiar terms with their neighbors, often sharing meals.
In a familiar way
Acting or speaking to someone as if you have known them for a long time.
He greeted everyone in a familiar way, making them feel welcome.
Familiar refrain
A comment, complaint, or idea that is repeatedly expressed.
We need more time, became a familiar refrain during the project.
Become too familiar
To overstep social boundaries in familiarity or intimacy.
He became too familiar when he started borrowing money without asking.
Break new ground, but keep it familiar
To innovate while still maintaining some elements that are recognizable or comforting.
The chef was known for breaking new ground but keeping the flavors familiar.
Familiar sight
Something that one sees often or regularly.
The coffee vendor on the corner was a familiar sight every morning.
All too familiar
A situation or experience that one has encountered so often that it has become predictable.
The feeling of missing the bus was all too familiar to her.
Familiar ground
A situation or subject area in which one is comfortable and knowledgeable.
The debate moved onto familiar ground, and she spoke with confidence.
Nothing is familiar
Feeling completely out of place or not recognizing anything in a particular setting.
When he returned to his hometown after many years, nothing was familiar.
Become familiar with
To get to know something or someone.
She spent the first week becoming familiar with her new job responsibilities.
Familiar story
A situation or excuse that one has heard many times before.
His claim of being stuck in traffic was a familiar story.
Keep company familiar
To associate closely with certain people.
She always made sure to keep company familiar, surrounding herself with trusted friends.
Familiar tone
Speaking in a way that shows a close relationship or lack of formality.
She addressed the group in a familiar tone, as if speaking to old friends.
Familiar with the territory
Knowledgeable about a particular area or subject.
As a local historian, she was familiar with the territory of the town's early days.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Familiar?
It's pronounced as /fəˈmɪl.i.ər/.
What is the root word of Familiar?
The root word is "familia" from Latin, meaning "family."
Which vowel is used before Familiar?
The vowel "a" is used before "familiar."
What is the verb form of Familiar?
The verb form is "familiarize."
Which conjunction is used with Familiar?
No specific conjunction is inherently tied to "familiar."
What is the singular form of Familiar?
The singular form is "familiar."
Which preposition is used with Familiar?
"With" is commonly used, as in "familiar with."
Is Familiar a noun or adjective?
"Familiar" is primarily an adjective but can also be a noun, especially in the context of supernatural entities.
Is Familiar an abstract noun?
No, "familiar" as a noun refers to a tangible entity, often in supernatural contexts.
Why is it called Familiar?
The term "familiar" originates from the Latin word "familiaris," relating to household or family.
What is the plural form of Familiar?
The plural form is "familiars" when referring to the noun form related to supernatural entities.
Is Familiar a collective noun?
No, it is not a collective noun.
Is Familiar a negative or positive word?
Neutral; however, its connotation depends on context.
Is Familiar a countable noun?
In its noun form (e.g., supernatural assistant), it is countable.
Is the word “Familiar” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Familiar" can serve as a direct object depending on the sentence's construction.
How many syllables are in Familiar?
There are four syllables.
What is another term for Familiar?
"Acquainted" (in certain contexts).
Is Familiar an adverb?
No, "familiar" is not an adverb.
What is a stressed syllable in Familiar?
The second syllable, "mil," is stressed.
What part of speech is Familiar?
It can be both an adjective and a noun.
Which determiner is used with Familiar?
Determiners like "this," "that," "my," and "a" can be used, depending on context.
What is the first form of Familiar?
In terms of verb progression (familiarize), it's "familiarize."
Which article is used with Familiar?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "familiar," depending on the sentence.
How do we divide Familiar into syllables?
fa-mil-i-ar
What is the third form of Familiar?
"Familiarized."
How is Familiar used in a sentence?
"The landscape is familiar to those who have traveled through the region."
Is the word Familiar a Gerund?
No, it is not a gerund.
Is Familiar a vowel or consonant?
"Familiar" is a word composed of both vowels and consonants.
Is the Familiar term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but it can be used metaphorically in some contexts.
Is the word Familiar imperative?
No, "familiar" is not imperative.
What is the opposite of Familiar?
"Unfamiliar" or "unknown."
What is the second form of Familiar?
"Familiarized."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.