# Does English (Or Any Language) Have A Word For Your Cousin + Sibling? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161 "2017-02-06T14:44:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/1 "2017-02-06T14:44:05Z")
Let’s say my mom gets knocked up by my dad **and** my dad’s brother. Conversely, let’s say my dad knocks up both my mom **and** my mom’s sister. The kids from those relationships would simultaneously be both my half-siblings and my cousins. Does English (or any language) have a word for that relationship? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/2 "2017-02-06T15:27:20Z")
No answer to OP’s question, but it is interesting to note that the described relationship is the precise relationship that existed between Queen Elizabeth I and her Chief Lady of the Bedchamber, Catherine Carey. (Or between the Queen and Catherine’s brother Henry, the Queen’s Lord Chamberlain.) Although Henry VIII never publicly acknowledged Henry Carey as his son, as he aged the Lord Hunsdon developed a strong resemblance to the King. [QUOTE=John Hale, vicar of Isleworth, 20 April 1535] Morever, Mr. Skydmore dyd show to me yongge Master Care, saying that he was our suffren Lord the Kynge’s son by our suffren Lady the Qwyen’s syster, whom the Qwyen’s grace might not suffer to be yn the Cowrte. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/3 "2017-02-06T18:21:59Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Let’s say my mom gets knocked up by my dad **and** my dad’s brother. Conversely, let’s say my dad knocks up both my mom **and** my mom’s sister. The kids from those relationships would simultaneously be both my half-siblings and my cousins. > > Does English (or any language) have a word for that relationship? Embarrassment. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/4 "2017-02-06T19:42:17Z")
Nah. Big plans for the weekend ? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/5 "2017-02-06T21:37:30Z")
In general when there exists more than one form of relatedness between people the closest one is primarily used. In the OP’s case, half-sibling. You mention the others when the point is of significance in the discussion. E.g., you’d generally refer to Charles Darwin and Emma Darwin _nee_ Wedgwood as spouses. But if it’s part of a discussion of their parentage then it would be appropriate to add that they were first cousins. Queen Elizabeth the II and Prince Phillip are usually described as spouses only. It is not generally needed to state that they are 3rd cousins. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/6 "2017-02-06T21:49:37Z")
In my trailer park, they call them “white trash”. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/7 "2017-02-06T22:13:29Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > No answer to OP’s question, but it is interesting to note that the described relationship is the precise relationship that existed… Another famous example is from the Bible, where Jacob married and had kids with both Leah and Rachel, who were sisters. But I’ve most commonly heard those kids referred to simply as [brothers](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+37&version=CEV), not half-brothers or cousins. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/8 "2017-02-06T22:33:35Z")
If polygamy is legal and accepted, then the legal status may just be brothers, with the half part irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/9 "2017-02-06T22:35:40Z")
**Does English (Or Any Language) Have A Word For Your Cousin + Sibling?** Jerry Springer guest. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/10 "2017-02-06T22:38:03Z")
Never heard of a word for it, but this sort of thing seems pretty common back when dying in childbirth happened more often. Doing my own genealogy I think there are at least one or two examples of a widower marrying his wife’s sister after her death that I can track. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/11 "2017-02-07T01:12:16Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Let’s say my mom gets knocked up by my dad **and** my dad’s brother. Conversely, let’s say my dad knocks up both my mom **and** my mom’s sister. The kids from those relationships would simultaneously be both my half-siblings and my cousins. > > Does English (or any language) have a word for that relationship? No, because the less said about this, the better. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/12 "2017-02-07T05:09:00Z")
I am going to stay out of this. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/13 "2017-02-07T10:13:45Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > If polygamy is legal and accepted, then the legal status may just be brothers, with the half part irrelevant. That doesn’t require polygamy, they can be sequential. And it can be a matter of what other connotations do those words have. Spanish does have words for half- or step-whatever, but they indicate that the relationship is bad; if the relationship is normal then the same words as for non-steps-or-halfs is used. Conversely, my Swedish coworkers were always very precise in identifying step-relatives: there, those terms carry no negative connotation. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/14 "2017-02-07T15:19:14Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Let’s say my mom gets knocked up by my dad **and** my dad’s brother. Conversely, let’s say my dad knocks up both my mom **and** my mom’s sister. The kids from those relationships would simultaneously be both my half-siblings and my cousins. > > Does English (or any language) have a word for that relationship? I suggest you call them _[levirate](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/levirate_marriage#English)_ and _[sororate](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sororate_marriage#English) siblings_ respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/15 "2017-02-07T22:22:10Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > That doesn’t require polygamy, they can be sequential. And it can be a matter of what other connotations do those words have. Good points. I was mainly trying to point out when matters of legitimacy are concerned with respect to inheritance and the like, the distinction of a half-brother is significant if it affects the standing, such as being in line for the throne. But sequential marriages wouldn’t cause that concern, so the “step” part isn’t particularly relevant. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/16 "2017-02-07T23:08:06Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Spanish does have words for half- or step-whatever, but they indicate that the relationship is bad; if the relationship is normal then the same words as for non-steps-or-halfs is used. Conversely, my Swedish coworkers were always very precise in identifying step-relatives: there, those terms carry no negative connotation. Bit of a hijack- but is that regardless of circumstances? I would find it very strange and possibly assume the relationship was bad if someone in the US specified half or step for siblings that were close in age who were raised together. I wouldn’t make that assumption if someone specified that their 25 years younger sibling was a half or if someone identified a man as their stepbrother after their 60ish parents got married. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/17 "2017-02-07T23:48:15Z")
My husband had a “shirt tail” relative who married a man and had a son by him. Then she divorced him and married his father who was a widow. She had three kids by him. The youngest of these was rumored within the family to not have been fathered by her then-current husband, but by his son – but not the son to whom she had previously been married. For some years any time I had trouble sleeping I would try to figure out what relationship her kids were to each other. ---
**Author:** ![wendelenn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/58f4c7/32.png) [@wendelenn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wendelenn)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/18 "2017-02-08T04:57:02Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > My husband had a “shirt tail” relative who married a man and had a son by him. Then she divorced him and married his father who was a widow. She had three kids by him. The youngest of these was rumored within the family to not have been fathered by her then-current husband, but by his son – but not the son to whom she had previously been married. > > For some years any time I had trouble sleeping I would try to figure out what relationship her kids were to each other. And now I’m thinking of the song “I’m my Own Grandpa”! ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-or-any-language-have-a-word-for-your-cousin-sibling/779161/19 "2017-02-08T07:56:44Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > My husband had a “shirt tail” relative who married a man and had a son by him. Then she divorced him and married his father who was a widow. She had three kids by him. The youngest of these was rumored within the family to not have been fathered by her then-current husband, but by his son – but not the son to whom she had previously been married. > > For some years any time I had trouble sleeping I would try to figure out what relationship her kids were to each other. The first and last sons you mention are just levirate siblings, like Elizabeth and her Chief Bedchamber Lady. Ho hum. The relation of one of them to the other kids is more interesting. They are half-nephew/half-brother. But note that there has been no incest in the sense of genetic inbreeding. [Roman Polanski filmed a documentary about a more extreme incestual case.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IBZocFkXGY)