Keith Mack
The term brother-in-law refers to the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling. In other words, your brother-in-law is either your spouse's brother or your sibling's husband. More broadly, a sibling-in-law is the spouse of one's sibling or the sibling of one's spouse. While the term brother-in-law typically refers to the specific relationships mentioned above, some people may use it more loosely to refer to the brother of their sibling-in-law, or the spouse of their sibling's spouse, who is not directly related to them by blood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Relation | Brother of one's spouse, husband of one's sibling, husband of one's spouse's sibling |
| Relation to your family | Related by marriage, not by blood |
| Relation to your spouse's family | Related by blood, not by marriage |
| Relation to your sibling's spouse | Brother-in-law |
| Relation to your sibling's spouse's sibling | Co-brother-in-law |
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What You'll Learn
Brother-in-law: the brother of your spouse
A brother-in-law is the brother of your spouse, or the husband of your sibling. In other words, your brother-in-law is your spouse's brother. This is the most common usage of the term.
The term can also be used to refer to the husband of your sibling, or the spouse of your sibling's spouse. In Indian English, this usage is referred to as a co-sibling, or co-brother. However, technically, your sibling's spouse is not your brother- or sister-in-law, and this usage is considered uncommon.
Your brother-in-law is related to you by a type of kinship called affinity, like all in-law relationships. This is a relation that does not connect you directly by blood. Similarly, the children of your brother-in-law are called your nieces and nephews, and can be specified as being "by marriage" if necessary.
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Brother-in-law: the husband of your sibling
A brother-in-law is a person who is related to you by marriage. The husband of your sibling is your brother-in-law. Likewise, your sibling's spouse is also your brother-in-law. This is a common way to refer to a male sibling-in-law, and the female equivalent is a sister-in-law.
In Indian English, the husband of one's sibling is called a co-brother. This term is used to differentiate between the different types of brothers-in-law one might have. For example, your brother's wife's brother is also your brother-in-law, but only by marriage, and some people prefer to refer to him as a co-brother-in-law to distinguish him from your sibling's husband.
Your spouse's brother is also your brother-in-law, and the same is true for your spouse's sister's husband. These are your in-laws, people you are related to by marriage.
It is important to note that, while these terms are commonly used, they are not technically correct in all cases. For example, your brother-in-law's wife is commonly referred to as your sister-in-law, but she is not actually related to you by blood or marriage.
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Brother-in-law: the husband of your 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 the latter case, the spouse's gender does not matter—the husband of your brother is your brother-in-law, and the husband of your sister is also your brother-in-law.
In common usage, a "sibling-in-law" is referred to as a "brother-in-law" if male and a "sister-in-law" if female. The reciprocal relationship between a person's spouse and their sibling's spouse is also referred to as a "sibling-in-law". In Indian English, the husband of one's sibling-in-law is referred to as a "co-brother".
It is important to note that, while the brother of your spouse is commonly referred to as a "brother-in-law", this is not a direct blood relation. The same is true of the husband of your sibling. In-laws are people you are related to by marriage, not blood.
While the term "brother-in-law" is commonly used to refer to the husband of your sibling, it is not incorrect to refer to your sibling's husband as your "co-brother" instead, to avoid confusion.
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Brother-in-law: the spouse of your sibling's spouse
A brother-in-law is the husband of your sibling or the husband of your spouse's sibling. The more common usage refers to the husband of your sibling. In this sense, your brother-in-law is not directly related to you by blood.
The reciprocal relationship between a person's spouse and their sibling's spouse is also referred to as a sibling-in-law. In this case, the male spouse of your sibling's spouse would be your brother-in-law. This usage is considered uncommon by some. In Indian English, this relationship can be referred to as a co-brother.
The children of your siblings-in-law are called nieces and nephews, and if necessary, it can be specified whether they are related "by marriage", as opposed to "by blood" or "by adoption".
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: the brother of your spouse's sibling is also your brother-in-law
The term "brother-in-law" is used to refer to the brother of one's spouse, or the spouse of one's sibling. In this case, we are focusing on the brother of your spouse's sibling, who is also considered your brother-in-law. This relationship is not a direct blood relation, but rather a type of kinship called affinity, which is common to all in-law relationships.
While the brother of your spouse's sibling is your brother-in-law, it is worth noting that this usage is considered uncommon by some. This is because the brother of your spouse's sibling is also the spouse of your sibling's spouse, creating a reciprocal relationship. In this context, they are more commonly referred to as your co-brother, particularly in Indian English.
It is important to distinguish this relationship from that of your brother's brother-in-law, who is not directly related to you. In this case, your brother's spouse joins your family as your sister-in-law, but her brother is not considered your brother-in-law. This is because the relationship is defined by the degree of separation through marriage, and in this case, there is no direct link to you.
While the terminology can be confusing, it is helpful to remember that in-laws are people you are related to by marriage, and the specific terms used depend on the cultural context and personal preference.
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Frequently asked questions
The brother of your spouse is your brother-in-law. The husband of your sibling is also your brother-in-law.
No. Your brother's in-laws are not your in-laws. For example, your brother's wife's brother is not your brother-in-law, but your sister-in-law's brother.
In Indian English, the term "co-brother" is used to refer to the husband of one's sibling-in-law.
