familiar
gb/fəmˈɪljɚ/ us/fəmˈɪljɚ/
A2
English
~ 1700
ismerős, ismer, bizalmaskodó, túl közvetlen, familiáris, segítő szellem
A2
1
ismerős
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is familiar to [someone]
Her face looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where we met.
Ismerősnek tűnt az arca, de nem emlékeztem, hol találkoztunk.
This song sounds familiar—have I heard it in a movie?
Ismerősen hangzik ez a dal – hallottam már egy filmben?
The layout of the new website is familiar to users of the old one.
Learner examples
His voice is familiar to me.
Ismerős nekem a hangja.
That man looks familiar.
Az a férfi ismerősnek tűnik.
The smell of bread is familiar to her.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'familiar with' and 'familiar to'. Use 'familiar with' for knowing about something, and 'familiar to' for something being known by someone.
Meaning
Well-known or easily recognized
Collocations
look familiar
|seem familiar
|become familiar
|sound familiar
Synonyms
recognizable (Focuses on being able to identify something from previous encounters.)
Antonyms
unfamiliar (Describes something not known or recognized from before.)
Themes
daily life
|memory
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Easy to know or remember because you have seen, heard, or used it before.
Well-known or easily recognized because of previous experience or knowledge.
B1
2
ismer
A1
Usage pattern:
familiar with [something]
I'm quite familiar with the city, so I can show you around.
Elég jól ismerem a várost, úgyhogy körbe tudlak vezetni.
Are you familiar with the latest software update?
Ismered a legújabb szoftverfrissítést?
She became familiar with the company's policies during training.
Learner examples
I am familiar with this book.
Ismerem ezt a könyvet.
He is familiar with the rules.
Ismeri a szabályokat.
We are familiar with the work.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'with' after 'familiar', which is incorrect in this meaning.
Meaning
Knowledgeable about something
Collocations
be familiar with
|get familiar with
|become familiar with
Synonyms
acquainted (Slightly more formal; suggests having some knowledge of something.)
Antonyms
ignorant (Lacking knowledge or awareness about something.)
Themes
education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Knowing a lot about something because you have learned or done it before.
Having a good knowledge or understanding of something due to experience or study.
B2
3
bizalmaskodó
B2
Usage pattern:
be familiar with [someone]
He was getting a bit too familiar with the staff.
Kezdett egy kicsit túl bizalmaskodó lenni a személyzettel.
The tone of the email seemed overly familiar for a first contact.
Az e-mail hangneme túl bizalmaskodónak tűnt egy első kapcsolatfelvételhez.
She dislikes it when strangers become familiar too quickly.
Learner examples
He is too familiar with her.
Túl bizalmaskodó vele.
The man was very familiar with me.
A férfi nagyon bizalmaskodó volt velem.
Do not be so familiar with strangers.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with 'knowing well'; here, it refers to behavior, not knowledge.
Meaning
Overly friendly or informal
Collocations
overly familiar
|too familiar
|getting familiar
Synonyms
forward (Implies being too bold or presumptuous in behavior.)
Antonyms
reserved (Describes someone who keeps a polite distance and formality.)
Themes
social behavior
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Being too friendly or informal with someone, in a way they may not like.
Behaving toward someone in a way that is too friendly or informal, sometimes considered disrespectful.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
familiáris
C2
The black cat was said to be her witch's familiar.
Azt mondták, hogy a fekete macska a boszorkány familiárisa volt.
In the novel, the sorcerer’s familiar took the form of a raven.
A regényben a varázsló familiárisa holló alakját öltötte.
Familiars were believed to give magical powers to their masters.
Learner examples
The witch had a cat as her familiar.
A boszorkánynak egy macska volt a familiárisa.
The story says his dog was his familiar.
A történet szerint a kutyája volt a familiárisa.
In the tale, the woman’s bird was her familiar.
Meaning
Witch's supernatural animal helper
Collocations
witch's familiar
|animal familiar
Synonyms
spirit guide (Broader term; not limited to witches, includes spiritual helpers.)
Themes
folklore
|fantasy
|arts_entertainment
|religion
Definition
In old stories, an animal that helps a witch or magician do magic.
In folklore, a spirit, often in animal form, that assists witches or magicians in their magic.
Grammar
Dictionary form
familiar
IPA
GB/fəmˈɪljɚ/
US/fəmˈɪljɚ/
Syllables & stress
fa - mil - i - ar (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mil)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: familiar
Noun
- Base: familiar
- Plural: familiars
Word family
Forms
familiars
noun
Core family
familiarity
noun B2
Related words
familiarize
verb B2
familiarly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unfamiliar
adjective B1
unfamiliarity
noun
Advanced or less common
familiarization
noun
Expressions
familiar with
1/fəmˈɪljɚ wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
Knowing about something well
To know about something because you have learned or experienced it before.
Examples
- I am familiar with his work on climate change.
- Are you familiar with this kind of software?
look familiar
1/lˈʊk fəmˈɪljɚ/
fixed phrase
Appear as if already known
To seem like something you have seen before.
Examples
- That actor looks familiar—where have I seen him before?
- The street looked familiar from my childhood.
overly familiar
1/ˈoʊvɚli fəmˈɪljɚ/
fixed phrase
Too informal or friendly in manner
Being too friendly or informal in a way that may not be polite.
Examples
- He was overly familiar with his boss at the party.
- Her tone was overly familiar for a first meeting.
sound familiar
1/sˈaʊnd fəmˈɪljɚ/
fixed phrase
Seem known when heard before
To seem like something you have heard before.
Examples
- Her voice sounds familiar to me.
- Does the name sound familiar?