is my dad or my mom a relative of mine?

Question

can i call my dad or mom a relative of mine?

Answer 1

A relative refers to anyone you are related to. Generally, relatives are limited to those that would show up on a family tree, such as parents, siblings, cousins (including second and third cousins), aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. Typically we think of relatives as someone who is connected to us by blood or by marriage. So, your aunt and uncle would both be relatives, even though one or the other is (most likely) not related to you by blood. Additionally, step-siblings are considered relatives because they are related by marriage. Half siblings are related by blood (shared with one of your parents). And people adopted into the family are considered relatives as well because they have been formally included into the family unit, even though they might not be related by blood or marriage.

The above response is correct in that your parents are your closest relatives outside of siblings from the same parents. Interestingly, most humans on Earth today are related by blood to Genghis Khan because he had physical relationships with every woman he ever came in contact with, but the shared DNA is so small that we would not consider each other relatives.

However, I disagree with the point about Putin. Just because someone is from another nation, even one we are in constant geopolitical conflict with, doesn't make them unrelated if the above conditions are met (blood, marriage, or adoption). That's like saying my third cousin who lives in Iran isn't my relative because the US and Iran are philosophically opposed on many issues. If I am blood related, connected by marriage, or included by adoption, then we are relatives.

Answer 2

technically, biologically, trivially, mom and dad are "relatives"

but that's like saying your spouse is an "acquaintance." Yes, you're acquainted with him or her, but it's a most unnatural way to talk

mom and dad are the closest possible "relatives" aside from children

relative means related, but you don't speak of Putin as being your "relative" if you're an American, no matter how much some DNA is shared. Or a father who disowns his son, saying angrily "He is Not my son," because of some major thing the son did that the dad disapproves of.

no one is more related to you than you yourself, but you don't talk about yourself as a "relative"