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Familliar vs. Familiar: Mastering the Correct Spelling

Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on March 11, 2024
"Familliar" is incorrect, while "Familiar" is the proper spelling, meaning well-known or often encountered.

Which is correct: Familliar or Familiar

How to spell Familiar?

Familliar is Incorrect

Familiar is Correct

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Key Differences

Remember, “It's familiar, not 'fill'iar, so it has only one 'l'.”
Link it with "similar" – both words have two 'i's and one 'l'.
Think of the phrase "I am" in the middle of "Familiar," which doesn't double any letters.
Associate the word with "familiarity," which also has only one 'l'.
Remember it has the same number of 'l's as "family," which is one.
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Correct usage of Familiar

He felt familliar with the new software after only a few hours.
He felt familiar with the new software after only a few hours.
The song's tune was strangely familliar.
The song's tune was strangely familiar.
Her face seemed familliar in the crowd.
Her face seemed familiar in the crowd.
The smell of the cookies was very familliar to him.
The smell of the cookies was very familiar to him.
I couldn't find anything familliar in the old neighborhood.
I couldn't find anything familiar in the old neighborhood.

Familiar Definitions

"Familiar" means being well-acquainted with or knowledgeable about something
The streets were familiar to her.
"Familiar" can denote something informal or casual
His familiar manner made him popular.
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.
A close friend or associate.
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" signifies frequent or routine
The feeling was familiar to him.
"Familiar" implies a close, personal relationship
She spoke in a familiar tone.
"Familiar" also refers to something easily recognized
Her face was familiar, but I couldn’t remember her name.

Familiar Sentences

The melody of the song was oddly familiar to her, even though she couldn't remember the lyrics.
The familiar smell of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen.
Walking into his old school, everything looked familiar to him.
She found a familiar face among the strangers at the party.
Every morning, the familiar routine of brewing coffee filled the house with a rich aroma.
Familiar characters in books can feel like old friends to avid readers.
The teacher's voice was a comforting, familiar sound in the classroom.
His friendly, familiar manner made everyone feel at ease.
Finding familiar items in a grocery store abroad can feel like a small victory.
Familiar streets and houses looked different in the snow, yet still brought comfort.
His familiar handwriting on the letter made her heart skip a beat.
The landscape seemed familiar, yet she couldn't recall ever visiting this place before.
The way he laughed was so familiar, it brought tears to her eyes.
The familiar jingle of her cat's collar announced its return each evening.
The familiar clang of the old school bell brought back a flood of memories.
The dog's familiar bark welcomed him home after a long day at work.
Sitting in her grandmother's kitchen, the familiar scents of spices brought back fond memories.
The familiar chime of the ice cream truck brought children running from every direction.
The familiar beep of the microwave signaled that dinner was ready.
The familiar hum of the air conditioner was a relief during the hot summer nights.
Recognizing a familiar tune on the radio, she sang along with enthusiasm.
Even in a new book, the author's familiar writing style was unmistakable.
Under the stars, the campsite became a familiar home away from home.
She always took comfort in the familiar sight of the lighthouse guiding them home.
Wearing her mother's necklace made everything feel more familiar and comforting.

Familiar Idioms & Phrases

Make oneself familiar with

To learn about something so that it becomes well-known.
He made himself familiar with the new software before the meeting.

As familiar as the back of one's hand

To know something extremely well.
She knows the streets of her hometown as familiar as the back of her hand.

In familiar territory

In a situation or area one knows well.
Discussing childhood cartoons, they were in familiar territory.

Familiar faces

People one recognizes.
At the reunion, she was greeted by many familiar faces.

To tread on familiar ground

To deal with a topic or situation that one knows well.
Writing about her childhood, the author was treading on familiar ground.

Strike a familiar note

To seem familiar or reminiscent of something.
The way the story was told struck a familiar note with the audience.

Turn familiar

To become well acquainted with someone or something.
After spending the summer together, the campers turned familiar with each other.

A familiar ring

Something that sounds familiar.
The name had a familiar ring to it, but she couldn't place where she'd heard it before.

Keep a familiar distance

To maintain a certain level of closeness without becoming too intimate.
They worked together and kept a familiar distance, being friendly but professional.

Familiar story

A situation or outcome that is commonly known or expected.
His sudden disappearance was a familiar story, given his mysterious past.

A face too familiar

Someone recognized often, sometimes to the point of annoyance.
The critic, a face too familiar at the gallery openings, always had something to say.

Become a familiar sight

To become something or someone that is seen regularly.
The mail carrier had become a familiar sight in the neighborhood.

Overly familiar

To act too intimate or close in a way that is inappropriate.
His jokes were becoming overly familiar, making some colleagues uncomfortable.

Nothing looks familiar

Used to express that nothing appears to be recognized.
Lost in the foreign city, nothing looked familiar to her.

Familiar territory for someone

A situation or subject with which one is very comfortable.
Talking about computer programming is familiar territory for her.

Grow familiar with

To gradually become accustomed to or knowledgeable about something.
She grew familiar with the city's public transport system within weeks.

Become familiar territory

To transition from being new or unfamiliar to well-known.
After a few months, the complex routines became familiar territory to the new recruits.

A familiar tone

A way of speaking that indicates closeness or intimacy.
He spoke in a familiar tone, as if they had known each other for years.

Familiar comfort

The comforting feeling that comes from being in a known or familiar situation.
Returning to her childhood home, she felt a deep sense of familiar comfort.

A familiar refrain

A commonly repeated line or argument.
The need for more funding in schools is a familiar refrain among teachers.

FAQs

What is the root word of Familiar?

The root word is the Latin "familiaris."

Which vowel is used before Familiar?

The letter "a" is used before "Familiar."

What is the pronunciation of Familiar?

It is pronounced as /fəˈmɪl.jər/.

What is the plural form of Familiar?

As an adjective, "Familiar" doesn't have a plural form, but as a noun, it’s "Familiars."

Which preposition is used with Familiar?

"With" is often used with "Familiar."

Which conjunction is used with Familiar?

There's no specific conjunction dedicated to use with "familiar;" it depends on the sentence.

What is the verb form of Familiar?

The related verb is "familiarize."

What is the singular form of Familiar?

"Familiar" itself is singular.

Why is it called Familiar?

It's called "Familiar" because it comes from the Latin "familiaris," meaning "domestic, of a household."

Is Familiar a vowel or consonant?

"Familiar" is a word consisting of both vowels and consonants.

Is the Familiar term a metaphor?

It can be used metaphorically in literary contexts.

Is Familiar a negative or positive word?

It's neutral; connotation can change depending on context.

Is Familiar a collective noun?

No, it's not a collective noun.

What is a stressed syllable in Familiar?

The stress is on the second syllable: "mil."

What is the second form of Familiar?

The related verb "familiarize" has the second form "familiarized."

Is the word Familiar imperative?

No, "Familiar" is not in the imperative form.

Is Familiar an adverb?

No, it's not an adverb.

Is Familiar an abstract noun?

Not generally, but when used as a noun, it can refer to an abstract concept of a spirit or demon.

What part of speech is Familiar?

It is primarily an adjective but can also be used as a noun.

Which determiner is used with Familiar?

Determiners like "this," "that," "my," "your" can be used, depending on the sentence.

What is the first form of Familiar?

As an adjective, it doesn’t have forms. The verb "familiarize" does, and its first form is "familiarize."

What is the third form of Familiar?

The related verb "familiarize" has the third form "familiarized."

Which article is used with Familiar?

"Familiar" can be preceded by "a," "an," or "the," depending on the context.

Is Familiar a countable noun?

As a noun (e.g., a supernatural entity), it can be countable.

How do we divide Familiar into syllables?

It is divided as fa-mil-ia-r.

How is Familiar used in a sentence?

"The song was familiar to me, yet I couldn't recall the title."

Is Familiar a noun or adjective?

It’s primarily an adjective, but can also be a noun in some contexts (like a witch's "familiar").

How many syllables are in Familiar?

There are four syllables in "Familiar."

What is another term for Familiar?

"Acquainted" when used as an adjective, "companion" in some noun uses.

What is the opposite of Familiar?

"Strange" or "alien" as an adjective, "stranger" in noun form.
About Author
Written by
Janet White
Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon Moss
Harlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.

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