Keith Mack
A brother-in-law is a male figure who is married to your sister, or the brother of your spouse. The term in-law is used to refer to your partner's family when you are married. In most areas of language, you select the words used to suit the purpose you wish to achieve. While there are no set rules about your brother's wife's brother, most people would consider him to be your brother-in-law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Brother-in-law is a compound noun that refers to the brother of your husband or wife, or the man who is married to your sister. |
| Synonyms | Male sibling of marriage partner, husband's brother, wife's brother |
| Relation | Brother-in-law is related by marriage, not by blood. |
| Usage | The term "in-laws" is used when referring to a partner's entire family. |
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What You'll Learn
Brother-in-law: husband's brother
A brother-in-law is the brother of your husband or wife. When you are married, your partner's relatives become your relatives by marriage. The term "in-laws" is used when referring to your partner's entire family. For example, your partner's mother becomes your "mother-in-law" and their father becomes your "father-in-law".
The brother of your spouse is your brother-in-law. This relationship is not by blood but by marriage. For example, if your brother marries someone, their brother is now your brother-in-law.
The term "brother-in-law" is also used to refer to the husband of your sibling. This is because your sibling's marriage brings their spouse's family into your family. So, your sibling's husband's brother is also your brother-in-law.
In Indian English, this relationship can be referred to as a "co-brother". This term is used to specify that the relationship is through your sibling's spouse, rather than your spouse. However, in most cases, the term “brother-in-law” is used for both relationships.
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Brother-in-law: wife's brother
A brother-in-law is a male figure who is married to your sister, or the brother of your spouse. In the latter case, once you are married, your partner's relatives become your relatives. The brother of your wife is, therefore, your brother-in-law.
The term "in-law" is used to refer to your partner's family. When you refer to your partner's mother and father, they become your "mother-in-law" and "father-in-law" respectively.
In some cultures, the term brother-in-law is used more broadly. In Indian English, for example, the term "co-brother" can be used to refer to the husband of one's sibling-in-law. In this context, the brother of your brother's wife could be referred to as a co-brother, and therefore, your brother-in-law. However, technically, the brother of your brother's wife is not related to you.
In summary, the common usage is that your wife's brother is your brother-in-law, but the brother of your brother's wife is not.
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Brother-in-law: sibling's husband
A brother-in-law is the husband of your sibling. When your sibling marries someone, their spouse becomes your brother-in-law. This relationship is not based on shared ancestry but on marriage. In other words, your brother-in-law is related to you by marrying into the family.
The term "in-law" is used to refer to your partner's entire family. When talking about the family in general, you will refer to them as your "in-laws". For example, your partner's mother becomes your "mother-in-law", and their father becomes your "father-in-law".
In some cultures, like Indian English, the husband of your sibling may be referred to as a "co-brother". This term emphasises the reciprocal relationship between a person's spouse and their sibling's spouse. It is important to note that this relationship is not based on shared blood but on a type of kinship called affinity.
While the term "brother-in-law" typically refers to the husband of your sibling, it can also have different meanings depending on the context. For example, your husband or wife's brother can also be referred to as your brother-in-law.
In summary, the term "brother-in-law" is used to describe a brother-like relationship that is a result of marriage rather than shared ancestry. The specific usage of the term can vary depending on cultural and personal preferences.
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Brother-in-law: cousin's wife's brother
The term "brother-in-law" is used to refer to the brother of your husband or wife, or the husband of your sister. In the latter case, the brother-in-law is related to you by marriage. In the former, the brother-in-law is related to you because their sibling (your husband or wife) is related to you.
In the case of your "cousin's wife's brother", this person is not considered to be your brother-in-law. This is because the term "in-law" refers to a person who becomes your relative by marriage. Your cousin's spouse is not your relative, so their brother is not your relative either. You could consider your cousin's spouse to be your "cousin-in-law", but this term is inaccurate because it could also describe your spouse's cousin.
There is no technical term for the relationship between you and your cousin's wife's brother. However, some people might consider him to be your brother-in-law.
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Brother-in-law: sibling's spouse's sibling
The term "brother-in-law" is used to refer to the brother of one's spouse, or the husband of one's sibling. In other words, if your brother is married, his wife's brother is your brother-in-law. Similarly, if your sister is married, her husband is your brother-in-law.
The term "in-law" is used to refer to a person who has become a relative due to marriage. So, when you get married, your partner's relatives become your relatives, and you refer to them as your "in-laws". For example, your partner's mother becomes your "mother-in-law", and their father becomes your "father-in-law".
Now, what about your brother-in-law's siblings? Are they also your brothers-in-law? The answer is a bit more complicated. Technically, your brother-in-law's siblings are not your brothers-in-law, as there is no blood or marital relation. However, some people may still choose to refer to them as such, especially if they are close to that side of the family. In most cases, your brother-in-law's sibling would simply be referred to as a relative of your brother-in-law, rather than a direct relation to you.
It's worth noting that the use of the term "brother-in-law" can vary across different cultures and families. Some families may have unique ways of addressing and referring to relatives, and this may include using different terms for these relationships. Ultimately, the most important thing is to respect these familial bonds and relationships, regardless of the specific terminology used.
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Frequently asked questions
Your brother-in-law is the brother of your husband or wife, or the man who is married to your sister.
Technically, there is no rule about your brother's wife's brother, but yes, most people would consider him to be your brother-in-law.
Your sister-in-law's brother is your brother-in-law. In the eyes of the law, a married couple becomes one person, so he is your spouse's brother.
You are not related to your cousin's wife's brother unless you are already related to those two siblings via another relationship that has nothing to do with your cousin's marriage.
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