Rellies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Informal term for one's relatives, meaning the members of one's extended family or kin
2. Casual British slang for family members, especially the wider circle of aunts, uncles and cousins
3. Familiar word for a person's relations, the relatives gathered together as kin

Etymology: "Rellies" is the plural of "rellie", a informal noun meaning one's relatives. It is built from "relative" with the diminutive or affectionate ending "-ie", the same suffix found in words like "hanky", "movie" and "brekkie". The clipping drops the second half of "relative" and leaves a friendly, chatty form that suits casual talk about the people you are related to. The pattern is a familiar one in British and Australian speech, where "-ie" and "-y" endings are attached to shortened words to make them sound informal. Because the base word is so ordinary, the result reads as pure everyday slang, with none of the formality of its source.

Synonyms: relatives, relations, kin, family

Antonyms: strangers