Brother-in-law, sister-in-law and others: a short dictionary of Russian relatives. Daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law and others: what do all these words mean Sister-in-law husband's sister

On the wedding day, not only a new young family is created, but each of the newlyweds officially receives new relatives. And if we all know who the mother-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law and father-in-law are, then with the definition of the brothers and sisters of the bride and groom, everything is much more complicated. Here, for example, brother-in-law - who is this? Do you still not know either? Then our article is especially for you!

Determine relationship

Let's turn to explanatory dictionaries. If a girl who has a brother gets married, after the wedding he is the brother-in-law of her husband (groom). It is this version that is offered to us by the dictionaries of Ozhegov and Dahl. It turns out that the question: “Who is this brother-in-law?” You can confidently answer - the wife's brother. The terms of sister-in-law define "folk", not consanguinity. In official documents and explanatory documents, you are unlikely to ever have to write the words "brother-in-law", "father-in-law" or "son-in-law".

Decryption explanatory dictionaries insists that only a sibling should be called in a special way, and not a cousin or stepbrother. However, if a woman considers her “conditional” relative to be a close and dear person, it is also appropriate to call him “brother-in-law”.

Origin of the word

From the point of view of linguistics, the word "brother-in-law" has many cognates with a variety of meanings. This is “rustling”, and “whispering” and “shuffling”. There are also rarely used names for the earthworm, borrowed from colloquial Latin "shur" - a stranger, and "chur" ("chur, not me!"), - it is quite possible that the word "brother-in-law" came from them.

Who joked like that in a relative way? If we turn to folklore, a lot of not very pleasant and good sayings and proverbs have indeed been invented about the brother-in-law and son-in-law. In addition to this, and in real history our state has enough brothers wives famous people, distinguished by not the most decent deeds. But are all brothers-in-law bad? Of course not, remember at least the words of V. Vysotsky: "Listen, Zin, do not touch the brother-in-law, which is not, but he is relatives ...".

Is it a relative?

We figured out the definition and we know that the wife's brother is the brother-in-law. Who can use this word except the husband? In fact, it is appropriate to use this term of sisterhood only on behalf of the spouse of the sister of the person in question. But if someone else wants to point out a relationship, you can use a popular definition with a mention of who it refers to. For example, a mother-in-law might say, "This is my son's brother-in-law" or "This is my sister-in-law's brother" - in both cases, we are talking about the same person, you guessed it.

What is the relation of a husband to his wife's brothers and sisters? Everything is somewhat simpler here, after the wedding, the groom (husband) becomes a “son-in-law” for all close relatives of his chosen one. Accordingly, this is how both the wife's parents and her brothers and sisters can call him. A pair of brothers-in-law are men, usually around the same age group. If the husband and sister's brother met recently, it makes sense to try to communicate more and look for new common interests. It's so nice when relatives communicate regularly and are truly friends! Start new family traditions and cherish family ties. And most importantly, never hesitate to answer the question: “Who is the brother-in-law?” Because now you know the only correct answer.

A Russian person has a lot of relatives. And each relative has a strange name that requires decoding.

"Father-in-law" - the father of a husband for his daughter-in-law (derived from "mother-in-law").

“Mother-in-law,” used to sound like “all blood”, “bred blood”, the head of the clan, which unites all blood relatives. Another version is “one’s own shelter” (earlier in Rus', the bride was brought to her husband’s house, so the house of the mother-in-law became native).

"Dever" comes from the word "trust".

To whom, if not this man, the young wife could entrust what she considered the most intimate. According to another theory, a relative was called brother-in-law not for the reason that they trusted him, but because, unlike others, he was often pointed to the door (you are not needed here with your advice, do not be smart). As an option, the brother-in-law was pointed to the door after being trusted too much.

"Sister-in-law" - comes from the word "evil", so in some regions of Russia it was pronounced as "zlovka".

This term may be associated with an old rite, when after the wedding, the bride was sprinkled with ashes on her head (her husband's sister also participated in this rite). This word is found in literary works written before the 18th century. The sister was always jealous of her brother for his young wife, and believed that she was doing everything wrong, shameless, so basically the term has a negative meaning.

"Daughter-in-law" - "who knows who."

This meaning is due to the fact that when taking a girl from a foreign clan, or other lands, as a wife, the husband’s relatives did not know anything about her (her customs, character, skills), which means they take someone who is not clear into the house. The etymology of the word is associated with the patroness of the hearth - Vesta, who lived in ancient Rome.

“Daughter-in-law” is a daughter-in-law, the wife of a son, a brother-in-law, or an experienced wife who already has children (“to be demolished”, “to demolish”).

The concept of "daughter-in-law" is not just a designation of kinship, but also a certain status. Another option - "daughter-in-law" comes from the word "son" - son's wife. But where did the "ha" part come from? The groom's parents considered the daughters-in-law to be clumsy, so they could both laugh at them and find fault (teach). Therefore, the word "daughter-in-law" has a derisive character.

“Father-in-law” - comes from the words: “tyaty”, “father”, “amuse”, “honor”, ​​parent of the wife.

A person who must monitor the observance of all traditions, the laws of honor in the family.

"Mother-in-law" - has Slavic roots and comes from the words "amuse", "comfort". After the wedding, the mother rarely sees her daughter, so amuse herself when she comes. Another option - the mother-in-law comforts small children (grandchildren).

"Shurin" - brother of the wife.

One of the points of view of the designation of the word "brother-in-law" is to scold (it turns out that he was scolded all the time). Another version - the word comes from "SHCHUR". To protect themselves from the evil eye in the old days, people squinted. The brother-in-law is a young friend who knows a lot, so it’s sly to squint. The verb "to make a fuss" was used when knitting brooms, weaving hedges and other products from branches. Therefore, the word "brother-in-law" means related by family ties (we introduced you to ourselves, therefore we are in the same family bond).

People now communicate less and less. Sometimes even sisters and brothers stop seeing each other, at best, they use the phone and the Internet to communicate, since now you can see each other on the monitor screen, even if you are thousands of kilometers away from your interlocutor.

Narrowing the circle of relatives

More recently, close people lived in large families, trying to settle, if not under the same roof, then at least in the neighborhood. Relatives were united by common interests, they helped each other cope with difficulties, celebrated holidays together.

Now native people communicate in a narrower circle. Mostly grandparents, children, grandchildren.

Why do we not know our own people and ask ourselves: “The brother-in-law is who in a related way?”

The fact is that with the easing of living and working conditions, people have become more independent of each other. Previously, for example, to wash clothes, it was necessary to find two or three hours of free time, now this issue is solved by simply pressing a button. People communicated more closely, because help was needed, it was hard to live without the support of relatives and friends.

Family ties

When two people decide to start a family, not only they become relatives, but also their loved ones.

A young wife acquires a father-in-law and a mother-in-law, which her husband's parents become for her. For them, she will be a daughter-in-law, or daughter-in-law. in the face sister the wife of a young woman acquires a sister-in-law, and her husband's brother will become her brother-in-law. The newly-made spouse will intermarry with the father and mother of the wife, who will acquire the status of caring father-in-law and mother-in-law. The brother of his soulmate and his wife will now be his brother-in-law and daughter-in-law. and her husband is a sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Yesterday's fiance will become father-in-law and mother-in-law. If the newlyweds live in the family of the spouse, then he can also be called a primak, that is, one who was accepted. After the wedding, the parents of the young become matchmakers to each other.

Three groups of kinship

  1. Kinship by blood - this group unites immediate relatives. For example, mother and son, brother and sister, father and daughter.
  2. Owners - that is, people become "their own" through marriage. Hence the names such as sister-in-law, brother-in-law.
  3. Kum connections. In this case, relatives become according to the rite of baptism (godson and godmother).

Brother-in-law - who is related?

So, the brother-in-law is none other than the wife's brother. From what word did this name come from?

"The brother-in-law squints his eyes." This proverb probably means that loving brother wife closely observes whether the young husband offends his sister.

The word brother-in-law most likely has a common root with the word "sew". That is, this is a relative who is “attached” to a young family through the marriage of a sister.

Interestingly, in English language there is the word sure, which should be translated into Russian as faithful, reliable.

A brother-in-law is someone related to your family. In most cases, he supports the young, helps them. This relative can become the godfather of the couple's child, which will further strengthen intra-family ties.

The sister's husband - the brother-in-law must understand this - needs his help in establishing relationships with his wife and her parents. These two men can get along well, especially if they have a small Common interests will make them true friends, and the family will be stronger, friendlier, stronger.

The strengthening of such a connection, of course, is influenced by the intra-family mentality. For brother and husband to become closer and kinder friend to a friend, the sister should remember that there are holidays that they can celebrate together. If she communicates more with her brother's wife, organizes common feasts, invites her children for walks, then men will definitely communicate better with each other. The brother-in-law's wife, by the way, is the daughter-in-law of a young family. If a brother does not have a wife, then his sister can take care of introducing him to a pretty single friend who can become his soulmate.

Who is the brother-in-law

A brother-in-law is the sister's husband. Relatives, as a rule, are reliable, because they both became relatives after marriage and equally feel the character traits of their father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Relationships between brothers-in-law can develop in different ways. In some families, they become friends, communicate "in their own way" and even make friends. Rarely, but it happens that the relationship of these relatives by marriage does not add up.

It is normal if there is a slight rivalry between brothers-in-law, which is expressed in mild jokes during joint gatherings.

A spouse and sister can do a lot to strengthen the relationship between these men. For example, you can go together with families to nature or recreation. However, do not organize such events too often and intrusively. It is much better if communication is desired, and for this you need to have time to miss each other.

sister-in-law

A sister-in-law is the wife's sister. She is the wife of a brother-in-law. Basically, the sisters communicate very well with each other, support each other. This is especially true when they both have children.

Sometimes, however, two women can compete a little with each other. It's not scary. Healthy competition leads to improvement in the relationship between husband and wife.

Kum connections

Both close relatives and family friends can become godfather and godfather for a child. Definitely give advice on who to choose as godparents, cannot be given.

If, for example, they are one of your relatives, then when asked who the brother-in-law and brother-in-law are, you can always answer that it is Godfather your son or daughter. They will become even more dear to you through the rite of baptism of your child.

Close friends may also be good godfathers. Such a “kinship” will contribute to your rapprochement, strengthening friendly ties.

How to communicate with in-laws

These are people who, it would seem, are not immediate relatives for a young family. However, contact with them can significantly affect the relationship between husband and wife.

When a spouse communicates with the brother of his soulmate, he must remember that a brother-in-law is someone who is related to his wife, which means that misunderstandings in interaction with him can adversely affect his relationship with his wife.

It is important for newlyweds to support each other and not talk badly about relatives. They are now one family. Just as a husband must remember who his wife's brother-in-law is, so a young wife should not forget that her brother-in-law is her husband's brother.

Nowadays, people are not particularly eager to sit together at the table, talk, see relatives. For what? After all, now, without leaving your home, you can not only hear the one you want to talk to, but also see him. Some resourceful individuals even manage to drink a bottle of wine with an old friend without looking up from the monitor screen. Would you say it saves time? Perhaps, but probably, if we got together more often, no one would ask in surprise the question: tell me, who is the brother-in-law? Let's try to figure this out.

Scientific and technical progress

Life in the twenty-first century has become as convenient as possible: we do not need to bring water from the well, heat it, waste great amount time for laundry, cleaning, washing dishes, standing in lines, cooking. All domestic issues are resolved very quickly, which saves us from having to hold on to each other. We do not need outside help to wash clothes, bathe a child, buy groceries. In addition, now it is very easy to organize interesting leisure activities. Going shopping with your family, for example, you can go to the cinema, located right in the shopping center, or have a bite to eat in a cafe. In the evening, it's so nice to watch an interesting family movie, "armed" with popcorn.

The absence of common problems probably led to the fact that we gradually lost common interests with close relatives, therefore, there was no need to see each other often, because we are now not as dependent on our relatives as our parents' generation. That is why we cannot definitely say who, for example, the wife of a brother-in-law is.

Relationship groups

I must say, we have lost the habit of considering anyone as relatives, except for those who are them by blood. Some cynical people do not even consider their husband and wife as relatives! Oddly enough, you can also become related through the marriage of one of your family. Such relatives are called relatives, they are the sister-in-law and the brother-in-law. These are those who have become their own, to be literal.

You can also find relatives through the baptism of children. Such connections are called nepotism.

Expansion of family ties

Now we rarely think about the fact that the decision of a young couple to start a family leads to the expansion of family ties. Of course, we all remember that a girl, having entered into marriage, becomes a daughter-in-law and acquires a father-in-law and a mother-in-law. A young man, having married, receives the status of a son-in-law in relation to his mother-in-law and father-in-law, who are now his wife's parents. If a young family lives under the roof of the wife's parents, then he will be a primak for them, which, probably, few people know about.

However, we rarely think about who other people are to each other after the formation of a young family. If you can somehow deal with a brother-in-law, then who, for example, is such a sister-in-law? Though perhaps we shouldn't delve into the matter so deeply.

Brother-in-law - who is this?

So, with the question: "The brother-in-law - who is this?" figured it out. This is the one who is the husband of your wife's sister. Brothers-in-law usually support friendly relations: "Two brothers - for a bear, and two brothers-in-law - for jelly." Sometimes these relatives can afford to discuss the character traits of their wives' parents.

It is good when these relatives communicate with each other in their own way, because such friendly relations make two families stronger. Although, of course, they may not get along with each other or communicate rather coldly. The reason for this may be different wealth, different social status, character traits.

In almost all families, there is little rivalry between brothers-in-law. This is normal if the matter is limited to light jokes and does not spoil the relationship.

Your spouse and her sister, who is your sister-in-law, can do a lot to make relations between brothers-in-law better. Usually, communication between young families becomes warmer when they acquire equal status, which may be due to the appearance of children by both sisters. It is brothers-in-law and sister-in-law who can become good godparents for your kids.

A little about sisters-in-law

The sister-in-law, as it now becomes clear, is the sister of the wife. She is the wife of a brother-in-law.

Relations between sisters-in-law are usually friendly. Of course, sisters can compete with each other, but with the birth of children, their communication will certainly warm up. Elder sister can advise the younger one on what to do in a given situation. A more experienced sister-in-law conveys life experience, shares the secrets of worldly wisdom and patience.

And for the sister-in-law, the brother-in-law is who? Accordingly, one who is the husband of a sister.

In most cases, as we understand, such relatives are friends with each other, because they are about the same age and often have common interests.

Now you know who the brother-in-law in the family is.

Second cousin - grandson of a brother or sister of a grandfather or grandmother = son of a cousin of an uncle or aunt = cousin of a parent. Great aunt - a woman in relation to children cousin or sisters = cousin of father or mother. For you, these are fathers and (or) mothers. Children of fourth cousins ​​​​are five cousins. A sister-in-law is the wife's sister. She is the wife of a brother-in-law.


People communicated more closely, because help was needed, it was hard to live without the support of relatives and friends. When two people decide to start a family, not only they become relatives, but also their loved ones.

In the person of her husband's sister, a young woman acquires a sister-in-law, and her husband's brother becomes her brother-in-law. The newly-made spouse will intermarry with the father and mother of the wife, who will acquire the status of caring father-in-law and mother-in-law. The brother of his soulmate and his wife will now be his brother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Kinship by blood - this group unites immediate relatives.

Brother-in-law - who is related? Who is a brother-in-law and brother-in-law?

So, the brother-in-law is none other than the brother of the wife. From what word did this name come from? Probably, this proverb says that the wife's loving brother is watching intently to see if the young husband offends his sister. These two men can get along well, especially if they have a slight age difference. The strengthening of such a connection, of course, is influenced by the intra-family mentality. In order for a brother and husband to become closer and closer to each other, a sister must remember that there are holidays that they can celebrate together.

Rarely, but it happens that the relationship of these relatives by marriage does not add up. Sometimes, however, two women can compete a little with each other. It's not scary. Both close relatives and family friends can become godfather and godfather for a child. It is impossible to give unequivocal advice on whom to choose as godparents.

These are people who, it would seem, are not immediate relatives for a young family. Lena, your sisters have nothing to do with your husband's father, so you need to address him by his first name, patronymic or just by his first name. Everything depends on the relationship. Your grandmother's children (i.e. father or mother) will be cousins ​​to the children of the grandmother's sibling. Maria, you can say for sure who the wife of a cousin is, her husband is Brataniha.

Julia, your grandmother’s sister’s daughter is your great aunt, and your children in relation to her are “great cousin-nephew” and “great cousin-niece” (in other words, second cousins). Uets (uychich, vuyets) - (obsolete) maternal cousin = son of uncle, mother's brother. Great-niece - girl / woman in relation to the uncle or aunt of the parent = granddaughter of a brother or sister = daughter of a nephew (tsy).

The development of technological progress has led to the fact that people close to each other now communicate less and less. A young wife acquires a father-in-law and a mother-in-law, which her husband's parents become for her. For them, she will be a daughter-in-law, or daughter-in-law. Brother-in-law screwed up his eyes.

Scheme of family ties in social kinship

The word brother-in-law most likely has a common root with the word "sew". If a brother does not have a wife, then his sister can take care of introducing him to a pretty single friend who can become his soulmate. Relationships between brothers-in-law can develop in different ways. In some families, they become friends, communicate "in their own way" and even make friends.

A cousin is the daughter of a cousin or sister. That is, this is a relative who is “attached” to a young family through the marriage of a sister. The sister's husband - the brother-in-law should understand this - needs his help in establishing relationships with his wife and her parents.



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