akin
Related by blood, or a lot like something else.
Also called close akin.
Updated September 21, 2026
akin pronunciation
/uh-KIN/
Meaning
In Southern and Appalachian talk, akin most often marks family ties: people who share blood or count as kin. It also covers likeness, as in two ideas or animals that belong to the same kind. You usually hear it after the noun, like "close akin" or "akin to."
How folks use it
- “Those two cousins are close akin on their mama's side.”
- “That story is akin to the one Granny used to tell.”
Origin and etymology
From older English of kin, shortened to akin. It once meant blood relation across English, and rural Southern and Appalachian speech kept that family sense alive alongside the "similar to" use.
Frequently asked questions
Is akin only about family?
No. It can mean related by blood, or just similar in nature. Context usually makes clear which one you mean.