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In old-fashioned English, the term "kith and kin" encompass all the people you've been connected with, including the nuclear and extended family members. What is its modern substitute if exists?

First scenario:

Imagine you're talking to a gypsy and want to ask him informally whether they have any relatives or friends close to him geographically.

Do you have any kith and kin in this city?

Second scenario:

Let's suppose a police officer who after a bad cat accident comes to an injured person on the street who is unable to talk about their relatives or friends that can come along with him/her. What would the officer ask his/her subordinates?

Try to find his/her kith and kin.

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  • What about "relative"?
    – Cardinal
    Commented May 26, 2019 at 14:35

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The modern expression for kith and kin is simply friends and family.


Note that in your first example sentence, it would be more natural to say, "Do you have any kith or kin in this city? Which, of course, would become Do you have any friends or family in this city?

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  • And @Jason Bassford in my second instance would it work to say: "Try to find his/her friends or family" or "Try to call his friends or family." ? That's just a bit confusing to me how to use "and" or "or" in my scenarios.
    – A-friend
    Commented May 26, 2019 at 17:08
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    @A-friend In the second sentence, both conjunctions work. If they are trying to find all friends and family, then and is fine. But if they are just looking for some (or any), then or would work. Commented May 26, 2019 at 18:07

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