Gavin Howe
The term brother-in-law refers to the brother of a person's spouse, or the husband of their sibling. This relationship is not one that is directly related by blood, but rather by affinity or marriage. In other words, a brother-in-law is a brother gained through marriage, rather than shared ancestry. This is true of all in-law relationships, which are based on kinship by marriage rather than blood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of kinship | Affinity |
| Relation by blood | No |
| Relation by marriage | Yes |
| Relation to the person | Spouse's sibling or sibling's spouse |
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What You'll Learn
Brother-in-law defined
A brother-in-law is a male figure who is married to your sister, or your brother's husband. The term can also be used to refer to the brother of your husband or wife. In other words, a brother-in-law is a sibling's spouse or a spouse's sibling.
The term "in-law" refers to a family relationship based on marriage rather than shared ancestry. When a couple gets married, their partners' relatives become their relatives through this legal union. This is why the family is often referred to as "my family in-law".
The husband of your sibling or the sibling of your spouse is commonly referred to as a brother-in-law. This is a reciprocal relationship, and the children of siblings-in-law are called nieces and nephews, with the specification of "by marriage" to differentiate from blood relations.
In Indian English, the term "co-sibling" may be used to refer to a brother-in-law, specifically a "co-brother" for the husband of one's sibling-in-law. It is important to note that a brother-in-law is not a biological brother but someone who becomes a brother through marriage.
In summary, a brother-in-law is a relative by marriage, and the term is used to describe the relationship between a person and their spouse's sibling or their sibling's spouse. This kinship is called affinity and is distinct from blood relations.
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Brother-in-law vs biological brother
A brother-in-law is not a blood relative but a relative by marriage. When your sibling gets married, their spouse becomes your brother-in-law. Conversely, when you get married, your spouse's sibling becomes your brother-in-law. In other words, a brother-in-law is the brother of your husband or wife, or the husband of your sister.
A biological brother, on the other hand, is a blood relative. They are your brother by birth and share at least one biological parent with you.
The key difference between a brother-in-law and a biological brother is the nature of the relationship. A brother-in-law is a relative by marriage, whereas a biological brother is a relative by birth and shared ancestry. The relationship with a brother-in-law is formed through the marriage of either yourself or your sibling, whereas the relationship with a biological brother is formed through the birth of a sibling with whom you share genetic ties.
While a brother-in-law is not a blood relative, they are still considered family. In-laws are related to you by a type of kinship called affinity, and they are viewed as part of your family according to the law of the country where you live. The term "in-law" specifically refers to a family relationship based on marriage rather than shared ancestry.
In some cultures, there are specific customs and traditions associated with brothers-in-law. For example, in Indian English, the wife of one's brother-in-law is referred to as a "co-sister", and the husband of one's sister-in-law is referred to as 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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Marriage and the law
Marriage is a legally recognised union between two people. The specifics of the law regarding marriage vary depending on the country and region. However, a common aspect of marriage is that it results in the formation of a family unit, which can include relatives gained through marriage, often referred to as "in-laws".
In-laws are people that an individual becomes related to by marriage, as opposed to by blood. A brother-in-law is a common example of an in-law relationship. This term can refer to either the brother of one's spouse or the spouse of one's sibling. The reciprocal relationship between a person's spouse and their sibling's spouse is also considered a type of sibling-in-law.
In-law relationships are a form of kinship called affinity, which does not relate to the person directly by blood. For example, the children of one's siblings-in-law are referred to as nieces and nephews, with the specification of "by marriage" to distinguish them from blood relatives.
In some cultures, there are specific customs and traditions associated with in-law relationships. For instance, in Indian English, the wife of one's sibling-in-law is referred to as a "co-sister", while the husband of one's sibling-in-law is called a "co-brother".
It is important to note that the laws and cultural norms surrounding marriage and in-law relationships can vary significantly across different countries and legal systems.
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In-laws and family ties
The term "in-law" refers to a family relationship that is based on marriage rather than shared ancestry or blood relation. When a person gets married, their partner's relatives become their relatives too, and they are referred to as "in-laws". For example, your partner's mother becomes your "mother-in-law", and their father becomes your "father-in-law".
A brother-in-law is a male figure who is either the brother of your spouse or the spouse of your sibling. In other words, it is the husband of your sister or the brother of your spouse. The reciprocal relationship is also true, wherein the brother-in-law is also related to you by affinity or kinship. In Indian English, this can be referred to as a "co-sibling".
The term "brother-in-law" is a compound noun and is hyphenated. It is not related to your mother or father, and hence, is neither a paternal nor a maternal relative. A brother-in-law is someone who becomes a brother by means of a legal marriage and is not a biological brother with whom you share the same parents.
In some cultures, the term "brother-in-law" can also refer to a non-obligatory duty to wed a deceased brother's childless widow, as seen in the Jewish custom of "yibbum". This custom allowed the widow to have progeny by marrying her late brother-in-law.
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Brother-in-law in other cultures
The concept of a brother-in-law exists in various cultures, each with its own unique perspectives and terminologies. Here is an exploration of the term "brother-in-law" and its significance in different cultural contexts:
Hinduism and Jainism
In Hinduism, the term "brother-in-law" signifies a complex familial role. It encompasses relationships such as the spouse of a sibling and carries responsibilities in funeral rites. It also has implications for offspring through customs like niyoga, reflecting intricate social dynamics. Similarly, in Jainism, "brother-in-law" signifies familial relationships, though the specifics of these dynamics are not mentioned in the sources provided.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism, a tradition within Hinduism that worships Vishnu as the supreme Lord, also recognises the importance of the brother-in-law. This is evident in the relationship between Gopinatha and Sarvabhauma, where Gopinatha is referred to as the brother-in-law of Sarvabhauma.
Buddhism
In Buddhism, the term "brother-in-law" can refer to a specific narrative context. It is associated with Tissa, the younger brother of a woman whose marriage may be threatened by his return to layman's life, potentially leading to a loss of wealth for the couple.
Greek Culture
Within Greek culture, there is a specific term, "sympatheti" (sympatheta for female, sympatheto for male), to refer to one's legal but not blood-related relatives.
Indian Culture
In Indian English, there is a unique term, "co-sibling", which is used specifically for the wife of one's sibling-in-law ("co-sister") or the husband of one's sibling-in-law ("co-brother"). This term recognises the reciprocal relationship between a person's spouse and their sibling's spouse.
Russian Culture
In Russian, there is a distinct word, "svoyák" (свояк), which specifically means the 'wife's sister's husband'. This term provides a clear definition for this particular type of relationship.
Finnish Culture
The Finnish language has specific words to describe certain in-law relationships. For example, "lanko" refers to either your spouse's brother, your sister's husband, or your spouse's sister's husband. On the other hand, "kaly" means your spouse's sister, your brother's wife, or your spouse's brother's wife.
Dutch and German Cultures
Due to their shared roots, Dutch and German cultures have similar words for brother-in-law. In Dutch, your wife's brother is called a "zwager", and in German, it is "schwagere".
Islamic and Jewish 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. However, 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.
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Frequently asked questions
No, a brother-in-law is not a blood relative.
A brother-in-law is the brother of your spouse, or the husband of your sibling.
The female equivalent of a brother-in-law is a sister-in-law, who is either the sister of your spouse or the spouse of your brother.
Your spouse's brother and my sibling's spouse are both your brothers-in-law.
No, in-laws are people you are related to by marriage, not by blood.
