rellies: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Colloquial, Conversational
Quick answer
What does “rellies” mean?
Relatives or family members. It is an informal, affectionate, and slightly humorous abbreviation of 'relatives'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relatives or family members. It is an informal, affectionate, and slightly humorous abbreviation of 'relatives'.
Used to refer broadly to one's kin, often in contexts of family gatherings, obligations, or shared history. Can imply a casual or irreverent attitude towards extended family connections.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Predominantly used in British, Australian, and New Zealand English. In American English, the equivalent informal term is more likely 'relatives' or 'fam' (from family).
Connotations
In the UK/AU/NZ, it is widely recognized and conveys a warm, folksy, or slightly quaint informality. In the US, it is rare and might be perceived as a quaint Britishism.
Frequency
Common in casual speech and writing in the UK, AU, and NZ. Very uncommon in AmE, where 'relatives' is standard, and 'fam' is the dominant slang equivalent.
Grammar
How to Use “rellies” in a Sentence
[Subject: We/I/They] + [Verb: have got/are seeing/are visiting] + [Object: the rellies] + [Adjunct: for Christmas/down from Scotland]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation about family plans, gatherings, or obligations.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rellies”
- Using it in formal writing. Misspelling as 'rellys' or 'reli's'. Using it to refer to a single relative (e.g., 'my rellie' is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a plural noun, referring to a group of relatives. The singular form is not standard.
No, it is far too informal. Use 'relatives' or 'family members' in professional or formal contexts.
It is very rare in American English. Americans would typically say 'relatives' or use the informal slang 'fam'.
The standard spelling is 'rellies'. It is a colloquial abbreviation of 'relatives', following the common pattern of adding '-ies' (cf. 'telly' from 'television').
Relatives or family members. It is an informal, affectionate, and slightly humorous abbreviation of 'relatives'.
Rellies is usually informal, colloquial, conversational in register.
Rellies: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛliz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɛliz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The rellies are descending.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'rellies' as a friendly, shortened version of 'relatives' – you cut it short because you don't have time for the full word with all the family around!
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY IS A COLLECTIVE ENTITY (often with its own agency, e.g., 'the rellies are coming').
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'rellies' be LEAST appropriate?