Keith Mack
The term brother-in-law can refer to the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, the husband of one's spouse's sibling, or the brother of one's sibling's spouse. In other words, a brother-in-law is a brother you gain because of a marriage relationship between either you and your spouse or your sibling and their spouse. Therefore, your brother-in-law cannot be your husband, but your brother-in-law's sister or your sibling's husband's sister could be your husband. In Indian English, the husband of your sibling's spouse is called a co-brother. It is important to note that in Islamic law (Sharia) and Jewish law (halakha), sexual relations between siblings-in-law are prohibited as incestuous, unless the spouse is no longer married.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of brother-in-law | The brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, the husband of one's spouse's sibling, or the brother of one's sibling's spouse. |
| Brother-in-law vs. husband | A brother-in-law is not a biological brother but someone who becomes a brother by means of a legal marriage. |
| Brother-in-law in different cultures | In Indian English, a brother-in-law can be referred to as a co-brother. |
| Brother-in-law in Islamic and Jewish law | Sexual relations between siblings-in-law are prohibited as incestuous, unless the spouse is no longer married. |
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What You'll Learn
Brother-in-law defined
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, the husband of one's spouse's sibling, or the brother of one's sibling's spouse. In other words, it is the spouse's brother or the sibling's husband. It is a reciprocal relationship, and the people involved are related by a type of kinship called affinity, which is the case with all in-law relationships.
The children of one's siblings-in-law are called nieces and nephews, and if necessary, it can be specified whether they are "by marriage", "by blood", or "by adoption". For example, if one pair of siblings is married to another pair of siblings, the siblings-in-law are related through their spouse and through their sibling, and the children of the two couples are double cousins.
In Indian English, the wife of one's sibling-in-law is called a co-sister, and the husband of one's sibling-in-law is called a co-brother.
In Islamic law (Sharia) and Jewish law (halakha), sexual relations between siblings-in-law are prohibited as incestuous unless the spouse is no longer married.
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Brother-in-law in different cultures
The concept of a "brother-in-law" exists in many cultures and is generally understood to refer to the brother of one's spouse, or the husband of one's sibling. However, the specific term and its usage can vary across different cultures and languages.
In Indian English, for example, there is a unique term called "co-sibling" to refer to the husband of one's sibling's spouse or the spouse of one's sibling's spouse. This is further differentiated as co-sister for the wife of one's sibling-in-law and co-brother for the husband of one's sibling-in-law.
In Russian, the term "svoyak" specifically refers to the husband of a wife's sister, recognising a unique relationship distinct from other types of brothers-in-law.
In Islamic law (Sharia) and Jewish law (halakha), sexual relations between siblings-in-law are prohibited as incestuous, unless the spouse is no longer married. On the other hand, in Judaism, there was a custom called "yibbum", where a man had the non-obligatory duty to marry his deceased brother's childless widow to provide her with progeny.
While the term "brother-in-law" may have specific definitions and connotations in different cultures, it generally refers to a relationship formed through marriage that is not directly related by blood. These relationships are classified as a type of kinship called affinity, similar to other in-law relationships.
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Brother-in-law vs. co-brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, the husband of one's spouse's sibling, or the brother of one's sibling's spouse. In Indian English, the husband of one's sibling-in-law is referred to as a co-brother.
To illustrate, consider the following family tree:
Family A:
- Alice
- Matt (Alice's spouse)
- Greg (Matt's brother)
Family B:
- Amy (Matt's sister)
- Bob (Amy's spouse)
In this scenario, Greg is Alice's brother-in-law, and Bob is Alice's co-brother-in-law.
It is important to note that the term "in-law" covers marriage only, and there are no sibling links. The children of one's siblings-in-law are referred to as nieces and nephews, with specifications such as "by marriage" used when necessary to distinguish from blood relationships.
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Who is your brother-in-law's brother?
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, the husband of one's spouse's sibling, or the brother of one's sibling's spouse. This reciprocal relationship is a type of kinship called affinity, which is not related by blood.
To answer the question, "Who is your brother-in-law's brother?", it is important to consider the relationship between the individuals involved. If your brother-in-law is the brother of your spouse, then his brother would be your spouse's sibling and, therefore, also your brother-in-law.
On the other hand, if your brother-in-law is the husband of your sibling, then his brother would be your sibling's brother-in-law, but not directly related to you. In this case, your brother-in-law's brother would be your co-brother-in-law, which is a term used to describe the husband of your sibling's spouse.
It is worth noting that the term "co-brother-in-law" is not commonly used, and most people would simply refer to the relationship as "brother-in-law". However, this can lead to confusion, especially in families with complex relationships or multiple marriages.
In summary, the brother of your brother-in-law can be either your spouse's sibling or your co-brother-in-law, depending on the specific family relationships involved. The term "brother-in-law" is generally used to describe these relationships, but it is important to clarify when necessary to avoid misunderstandings.
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Can your brother-in-law be your brother?
The term "brother-in-law" refers to a relationship by marriage rather than a blood relationship. A brother-in-law is typically defined as the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling. This means that your brother-in-law is not your biological brother, but someone who becomes your brother through marriage.
In some cultures, such as Indian English, there is a specific term called "co-brother" to refer to the husband of one's sibling's spouse. This term clarifies the distinction between different types of brothers-in-law.
While the term "brother-in-law" generally refers to a relationship through marriage, there are nuances in different cultures and languages. For example, in some cultures, there may be a custom of addressing the spouse's sibling's spouse as a brother-in-law, even though they are not directly related by marriage.
In summary, the common understanding of the term "brother-in-law" refers to a relationship through marriage, and a brother-in-law is not biologically one's brother. However, cultural and linguistic variations may expand the definition to include relationships formed through the marriage of siblings' spouses.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, your brother-in-law can be your husband's brother. A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, the husband of one's spouse's sibling, or the brother of one's sibling's spouse.
No, your brother-in-law is not your brother. A brother-in-law is someone who becomes a brother by means of a legal marriage.
Yes, your brother-in-law can be your sister's husband. A brother-in-law is the husband of one's sibling.
No, your brother-in-law cannot be your husband. A brother-in-law is the brother of your spouse or the husband of your sibling.
