Key Difference – Family vs Relatives
The two terms family and relatives can cause confusion as they are interconnected. Relatives are individuals who are related by blood or marriage, while a family is a group of people, usually consisting of two parents and their children, living together as a unit. The primary distinction between family and relatives is that a family always comprises relatives.
What is a Family?
A family is generally defined as a group of people made up of two parents and their children living together as a unit. A family usually consists of a group related by birth or blood and is considered the smallest unit in society. Family members can be roughly divided into immediate family and extended family. Immediate family members typically include parents, spouses, siblings, and children, while extended family members can include aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, nephews, nieces, and in-laws.
Who are Relatives?
A relative is an individual connected by blood or marriage. If two people are related by birth or marriage, they are considered relatives. A family is typically made up of relatives. Blood relatives include parents, children, siblings, half-siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Marriage relatives include a spouse, in-laws, stepchildren, and stepsiblings. Additionally, legal means such as adoption can create kinship or add a new relative to our lives, such as foster parents and foster children.
Key Takeaways
- A family consists of a group of people related by birth or blood, while relatives are people connected by blood or marriage.
- Family refers to a group of relatives that typically live together, whereas relatives refer to people who are related to us by blood or legal means.
- Immediate family members include parents, spouses, siblings, and children, while extended family members include aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, nephews, nieces, and in-laws.
