Keith Mack
The daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece, not your niece-in-law. The children of one's siblings-in-law are called nieces and nephews, and if necessary, it is specified whether they are by marriage, by blood, or by adoption. In English, there are three sets of terms that cause the most difficulty: cousin, in-law, and half or step relations. Each of these terms can be used for several different relationships.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Relation to the user | Brother-in-law's daughter |
| Relation to the user's child | Cousin or cousin-in-law |
| Relation to the user's grandchild | Aunt |
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What You'll Learn
Your brother-in-law's daughter is your niece
The children of one's siblings are called nieces and nephews. Similarly, the children of one's siblings-in-law are also nieces and nephews. A sibling-in-law is the spouse of one's sibling or the sibling of one's spouse. In other words, your brother-in-law is either the husband of your sister or the brother of your spouse. Therefore, your brother-in-law's daughter is your niece.
In English, there are relatively few kinship terms compared to many other languages. For example, English uses the term uncle for any of four relationships: a father's brother, mother's brother, father's sister's husband, or mother's sister's husband. Similarly, aunt in English can mean your father's sister, mother's sister, father's brother's wife, or mother's brother's wife.
In-law relationship terms are always written with hyphens, and the plural is formed on the part before the "in-law". For example, it is "brothers-in-law" and not "brother-in-laws". The only exception is the general term "in-laws", which is always plural.
It is worth noting that English, in general, has relatively few kinship terms compared to many other languages. For example, in Swedish, your mother's brother is called a "morbror", and your father's brother is a "farbror", whereas in Danish, the term for both is "onkel", the same term used in English, "uncle".
In summary, your brother-in-law's daughter is your niece. While English has some limitations in kinship terms, the relationship between your brother-in-law's daughter and you is clearly defined as a niece.
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You are not related by blood
The daughter of your brother-in-law is not related to you by blood. In English, the daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece. However, it is important to specify whether she is your "niece by marriage" or "niece by blood" to clarify that she is not your blood relative. This is because the term "brother-in-law" refers to the spouse of your sibling, and so their children are not directly related to you by blood.
In-law relationships are a type of kinship called affinity, which means that these relationships are formed by marriage rather than by blood. This is in contrast to other types of kinship, such as consanguinity, which refers to relationships by blood.
The English language has relatively few kinship terms compared to many other languages, and this can sometimes lead to confusion or limitations in describing relationships. For example, the term "brother-in-law" can refer to the husband of your sibling, or the brother of your spouse. This can make it challenging to specify the relationship between individuals who are connected through marriage but are not directly related by blood.
In more complex family structures, such as step-relationships or same-sex marriages, it can become even more challenging to find appropriate kinship terms in English. In these cases, it may be simplest to refer to individuals by name or to specify the exact nature of the relationship when introducing them to a third party.
Overall, while the daughter of your brother-in-law is considered your niece, it is important to clarify that this relationship is "by marriage" rather than "by blood". This distinction highlights that the connection is formed through affinity or marriage, rather than direct consanguinity or blood relation.
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You are related by marriage
The daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece. This is true whether your brother-in-law is the sibling of your spouse or the spouse of your sibling. In the latter case, the daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece by marriage, as opposed to by blood or by adoption.
English has relatively few kinship terms compared to many other languages, and this is particularly true when it comes to relationships by marriage. For example, there is no simple term to describe the relationship between you and the parents of your brother-in-law. Similarly, the only way to describe the relationship of your brother-in-law's daughter to a third party is to say "my brother-in-law's daughter". However, when speaking to your grandchild, you could refer to your brother-in-law's daughter as their cousin.
In other languages, kinship terms can be more specific. For example, in Swedish, your mother's brother is called "morbror", and your father's brother is called "farbror", whereas in Danish, the term "onkel" is used for both. In French, your daughter-in-law and your stepdaughter are both called "belle-fille", and in Polynesian languages, the same words are used for male and female cousins as for brothers and sisters.
In conclusion, while the daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece, the specific nature of this relationship can be clarified as needed, especially when speaking to a third party. However, English has a more limited set of kinship terms than many other languages, which can make describing family relationships by marriage challenging.
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You could refer to her as your niece on your wife's side
English has relatively few kinship terms compared to many other languages. This can make it challenging to determine the precise relationship between individuals, especially when it comes to relationships by marriage. In this case, the daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece on your wife's side. This relationship is not directly related by blood, but rather through affinity or marriage.
To break it down, your brother-in-law is the brother of your spouse or the spouse of your sibling. Their daughter, therefore, is your niece, but to specify the connection further, you can say she is your "niece on your wife's side" or "niece by marriage". This distinction can be important in certain contexts to clarify the exact nature of the relationship.
It is worth noting that different cultures and languages have their own unique kinship terms and systems. These terms can vary greatly and may include specific words for relationships that are more broadly categorised in English. For example, in Indian English, the terms "co-sister" and "co-brother" are used for the wife of one's sibling-in-law and the husband of one's sibling-in-law, respectively.
In more complex family structures, such as step-relationships or same-sex marriages, determining kinship terms can become even more intricate. In these cases, it may be most practical to refer to individuals by name when introducing them to someone outside the family. However, within the family, it is common to use terms like "niece" or "aunt" for simplicity, even if they don't strictly adhere to the formal definitions.
In summary, while English may have limitations in its kinship terminology, you can refer to your brother-in-law's daughter as your "niece on your wife's side" or "niece by marriage" to specify the nature of your relationship accurately.
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You are her aunt or uncle
English has relatively few kinship terms compared to many other languages, and this is especially true when it comes to relationships by marriage. The daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece, though it may be specified that she is your "niece by marriage" to differentiate her from your nieces by blood or adoption.
If your brother-in-law is the brother of your spouse, then you are this girl's aunt or uncle by marriage. If your brother-in-law is the spouse of your sibling, then you are the girl's aunt or uncle by affinity, a type of kinship that includes all in-law relationships. In either case, you are her aunt or uncle.
Your relationship to your niece can be further specified by differentiating between the relationships of her parents. If your brother-in-law is the brother of your spouse, then you are the girl's paternal or maternal aunt or uncle, depending on the gender of your spouse. If your brother-in-law is the husband of your sibling, then you are the girl's paternal or maternal aunt or uncle, depending on the gender of your sibling.
The terms "aunt" and "uncle" in English can refer to several relationships. "Aunt" can mean your father's sister, mother's sister, father's brother's wife, or mother's brother's wife. "Uncle" can refer to your father's brother, mother's brother, father's sister's husband, or mother's sister's husband.
In other languages, kinship terms can be more specific. For example, in Swedish, your mother's brother is called "morbror" and your father's brother is "farbror", whereas in Danish, "onkel" is used for both.
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Frequently asked questions
The daughter of your brother-in-law is your niece, not your niece-in-law. You are not related by blood, but she will likely call you “aunt” or "uncle".
You can either call her your brother-in-law's daughter or say "niece" on my wife's side. If you're talking to the child and she asks, just say that she's your niece to keep things simple.
Your brother-in-law's son is your nephew. You are not related by blood, but he will likely call you "aunt" or "uncle".
Your brother-in-law's child is your niece or nephew. You are not related by blood, but they will likely call you "aunt" or "uncle".
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