Where "Rellies" Comes From
A straightforward "-ie/-y" abbreviation of "relatives," from the same word-shortening habit that produced "brekkie" and "arvo." Green's Dictionary of Slang records it as Australian, with an earliest citation from 1980.
“We're heading up the coast on the weekend to see the rellies.”
“Mum's cooking enough for about thirty because all the rellies are coming.”
"Can't make it Saturday, got the rellies coming down from Brisbane."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Almost always plural. Common in phrases like "the rellies are staying for Chrissy."
Rellies is warm, casual and a little cosy. It usually turns up when someone is talking about plans that revolve around family: who is coming to stay, who has to be visited, whose house the Christmas lunch is at. It can carry a slight groan if the visit is a big one, but it is rarely unkind.
You will nearly always hear it as a plural with "the": "the rellies". It is normally about extended family, such as aunts, uncles and cousins, rather than your own mum and dad or your partner. Learners can use it with friends and workmates without any risk, but keep "relatives" for emails, forms and anything formal. The singular "rellie" exists but sounds odd in most conversations.
See also: Brekkie (another -ie shortening), Arvo (another everyday shortening), Chrissy (the time of year rellies gather).
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