   Close AkinIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "close akin" means closely related, either by blood or by likeness. It’s used to sort out family ties or to compare two things that are similar in nature. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #DialectandGrammar #OldTimers #Southern Hillbilly Dude Says...  I've heard close akin all my life, but when it comes to comparin' two things, that's mainly old timers. Hillbilly Dude Says... I've heard close akin all my life, but when it comes to comparin' two things, that's mainly old timers. Pronunciation[klohs uh-KIN] Meaning & Usage- Closely related by family (phrase)
Mae:
Are y’all kin?
Earl:
Yeah, we’re close akin - his granny’s my aunt’s sister.- Similar in kind or nature (figurative)
Mae:
That critter looks like a big ol’ rat.
Earl:
Well, possums are close akin to rats.★ "Close akin" shows how flexible country speech can be. It covers both kinfolk and comparisons, giving it a double life in family talk and colorful descriptions. ★ Origin and EtymologyFrom the old English word "akin," meaning related by blood. Rural Southern and Appalachian speakers expanded it beyond kinship to describe similarity between animals, people, or even objects. Usage NotesStill common in rural talk, especially in family conversations and storytelling. Outside the South, "akin" may sound formal, but "close akin" remains down-home and natural. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "close uh-kin." Sometimes shortened further in quick talk: "clos’ kin." | ...
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