familiar
gb/fəmˈɪljɚ/ us/fəmˈɪljɚ/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 1700
Maana
maana 0
adjective
A2
property
1
Well-known or easily recognized
Easy to know or remember because you have seen, heard, or used it before.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[something] is familiar to [someone]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'familiar with' and 'familiar to'. Use 'familiar with' for knowing about something, and 'familiar to' for something being known by someone.
Visawe
recognizable (Focuses on being able to identify something from previous encounters.)
Vinyume
unfamiliar (Describes something not known or recognized from before.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
look familiar
|seem familiar
|become familiar
|sound familiar
Mada
daily life
|memory
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- Her face looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where we met.
- This song sounds familiar—have I heard it in a movie?
- The layout of the new website is familiar to users of the old one.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- His voice is familiar to me.
- That man looks familiar.
- The smell of bread is familiar to her.
adjective
B1
property
2
Knowledgeable about something
Knowing a lot about something because you have learned or done it before.
Muundo wa matumizi:
familiar with [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes omit 'with' after 'familiar', which is incorrect in this meaning.
Visawe
acquainted (Slightly more formal; suggests having some knowledge of something.)
Vinyume
ignorant (Lacking knowledge or awareness about something.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
be familiar with
|get familiar with
|become familiar with
Mada
education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- I'm quite familiar with the city, so I can show you around.
- Are you familiar with the latest software update?
- She became familiar with the company's policies during training.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- I am familiar with this book.
- He is familiar with the rules.
- We are familiar with the work.
adjective
B2
property
3
Overly friendly or informal
Being too friendly or informal with someone, in a way they may not like.
Muundo wa matumizi:
be familiar with [someone]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may confuse this sense with 'knowing well'; here, it refers to behavior, not knowledge.
Visawe
forward (Implies being too bold or presumptuous in behavior.)
Vinyume
reserved (Describes someone who keeps a polite distance and formality.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
overly familiar
|too familiar
|getting familiar
Mada
social behavior
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- He was getting a bit too familiar with the staff.
- The tone of the email seemed overly familiar for a first contact.
- She dislikes it when strangers become familiar too quickly.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He is too familiar with her.
- The man was very familiar with me.
- Do not be so familiar with strangers.
Nomino
literary
C1
entity
4
Witch's supernatural animal helper
In old stories, an animal that helps a witch or magician do magic.
Visawe
spirit guide (Broader term; not limited to witches, includes spiritual helpers.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
witch's familiar
|animal familiar
Mada
folklore
|fantasy
|arts_entertainment
|religion
Mifano
- The black cat was said to be her witch's familiar.
- In the novel, the sorcerer’s familiar took the form of a raven.
- Familiars were believed to give magical powers to their masters.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The witch had a cat as her familiar.
- The story says his dog was his familiar.
- In the tale, the woman’s bird was her familiar.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
familiar
IPA
GB/fəmˈɪljɚ/
US/fəmˈɪljɚ/
Silabi na mkazo
fa - mil - i - ar (silabi 4)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mil)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: familiar
Noun
- Base: familiar
- Plural: familiars
Familia ya neno
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
Semi
familiar with
1/fəmˈɪljɚ wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
Knowing about something well
To know about something because you have learned or experienced it before.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- Her voice sounds familiar to me.
- Does the name sound familiar?