# What relationship is your brother-in-law's wife to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164 "2009-06-18T12:59:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/1 "2009-06-18T12:59:02Z")
Is there a name for it? Cause “brother-in-law’s wife” is really really long. Is she your sister-in-law? ---
**Author:** ![jonbvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@jonbvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonbvn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/2 "2009-06-18T13:16:36Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Is there a name for it? Cause “brother-in-law’s wife” is really really long. Is she your sister-in-law? Could be your sister also?😃 ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/3 "2009-06-18T13:24:20Z")
Assuming you mean the wife of your spouse’s brother. She is your spouse’s sister-in-law. There is no simple term to describe her relationship to you. I suppose you could refer to her as your sister-in-law even though that’s not really correct. “Brother-in-law’s wife” is not \*really \*all that long 🙂 (My wife had a relative visiting us a few weeks ago and she called her her niece. When I asked how she was related, it took a couple of minutes to explain it all. She wasn’t really her niece, and the relationship jumped across two marriages, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/4 "2009-06-18T13:52:33Z")
Technically there is no lrgal relationship. In many areas, however, two couples of wshich one spouse each are siblings regard each other as in-laws, so that Sam, who is married to Mary, who is Jane’s sister, regards Jane’s husband Bill as his brother-in-law, even though there is no legal connection. I did a doubletake at **jonbvn** ’s post, thinking at first he was speaking of the couples comprised of siblings phenomenon: Bill and Bob, who area brothers, marry sisters Sally and Sue respaectively, so that both aunt and uncle are blood realatives to the children of either couple (who are themselves double cousins to the children of the other couple). Then I realized he was pointing out that a ‘brother-in-law’ may be descriptive of your sister’s husband. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/5 "2009-06-18T13:58:46Z")
I believe the term you are looking for is “none”. ---
**Author:** ![I\_of\_the\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/53a042/32.png) [@I\_of\_the\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_of_the_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/6 "2009-06-18T13:58:58Z")
I still call that one sister-in-law. Because you share the same parents-in-law. I don’t regard my interpretation as more or less valid than anyone elses because, ironically, there is no law about it. But it makes sense to me, having attended family gatherings with several of those relationships present. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/7 "2009-06-18T14:05:38Z")
In my family, a brother-in-law’s wife is called a sister-in-law. You could refer to a visit by the couple as “My brother- and sister-in-law came over for dinner on Friday night”, although it’s really hard to vocalise that hanging hyphen. XD ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/8 "2009-06-18T14:09:01Z")
I love English but we really need to steal some more words from other languages, especially relationships. In Hindi your husband’s elder brother is your “Jhet”, and his wife is your “Jhetani”; his younger brother is your “Devur”, and his wife is “Devrani”. Come on, English! I’m sure we can beat up some language and steal their words! The thing is, too, is there is a relationship, even if there is no “real” one - there are only two sons, and (presumably) there are only two daughters-in-law - me and her. So there should be something. Jhetani! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/9 "2009-06-18T14:10:42Z")
In Spanish we call that “concuñada”; a poll taken by a bunch of Hispanics asking Anglos in Miami brought up that there doesn’t seem to be a specific term in English. Spouses are cónyuges; parents-in-law are suegros and parents of spouses are consuegros; siblings-in-law are cuñados and siblings of spouses are concuñados - the “con” means “with.” ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/10 "2009-06-18T14:19:37Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > …parents-in-law are suegros and parents of spouses are consuegros… ?? The parent of my spouse is my parent-in-law - that’s the definition. I don’t follow the distinction you’re making here. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/11 "2009-06-18T14:36:11Z")
> [@I\_of\_the\_Tiger](#): > > I still call that one sister-in-law. Because you share the same parents-in-law. I don’t regard my interpretation as more or less valid than anyone elses because, ironically, there is no law about it. But it makes sense to me, having attended family gatherings with several of those relationships present. I do this, too … at least around here, it’s common usage. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/12 "2009-06-18T14:42:50Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I love English but we really need to steal some more words from other languages, especially relationships. In Hindi your husband’s elder brother is your “Jhet”, and his wife is your “Jhetani”; his younger brother is your “Devur”, and his wife is “Devrani”. > > Come on, English! I’m sure we can beat up some language and steal their words! > The thing is, too, is there is a relationship, even if there is no “real” one - there are only two sons, and (presumably) there are only two daughters-in-law - me and her. So there should be something. Jhetani! It’s not so much a linguistic phenomenon as it is a sociological or anthropological one. Evidently, there are [six basic systems](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinship_terminology). English speakers use “[Eskimo kinship](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo_kinship).” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/13 "2009-06-18T14:43:00Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > ?? The parent of my spouse is my parent-in-law - that’s the definition. I don’t follow the distinction you’re making here. I’m pretty sure she meant to say “spouses of parents,” not “parents of spouses.” ---
**Author:** ![unclelem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ac91a4/32.png) [@unclelem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclelem)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/14 "2009-06-18T15:20:54Z")
Or, you can change frame of reference (which happens when you have children) and just say (the kids’)“Aunt Kathy”. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/15 "2009-06-18T16:55:01Z")
FWIW I looked up possible English translations for the German equivalent term _Schwippschwager_ (n,m)/_Schwippschwägerin_ (n,f) [this term covers a sibling’s spouse’s sibling as well as a spouse’s sibling’s spouse] but the German-English dictionaries I consulted only had circumlocutions, so this also argues for there being no English term. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/16 "2009-06-18T16:56:06Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > ?? The parent of my spouse is my parent-in-law - that’s the definition. I don’t follow the distinction you’re making here. If you and I marry, my parents and your parents are “consuegros” to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/17 "2009-06-18T16:58:51Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > If you and I marry, my parents and your parents are “consuegros” to each other. Ah, thank you. The “to each other” is what I didn’t grasp. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/18 "2009-06-18T17:07:04Z")
Another vote for sister-in-law. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/19 "2009-06-18T17:12:08Z")
English doesn’t even have words to differentiate my sister’s husband (brother-in-law) from my spouse’s brother (brother-in-law). As far as I’ve ever known, my brother-in-law’s wife is my sister-in-law. Well, unless she’s my sister, obviously. I don’t follow why some of you think the sibling-in-law terminology _wouldn’t_ apply to a spouse’s sibling’s spouse, when it’s obviously not a specific term to start with. As far as I can find definitions, it means “someone you’re related to by marriage”, which would definitely include this relationship. I vote with **Anaamika**. We need to go mug some other language for more specific English vocabulary. We could still keep the current words for those times when you want to be more general. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164/20 "2009-06-18T17:28:17Z")
> [@Sapo](#): > > If you and I marry, my parents and your parents are “consuegros” to each other. Lovely! I’ve been wanting a word for that. Once or twice I’ve toyed with the term cross-laws, but I like the feeling of “with” better. As to the general relatives of my in-laws thing, sometimes I use the term out-laws. People humor me. Sometimes to the point of patting me on the head. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relationship-is-your-brother-in-laws-wife-to-you/500164.md?page=2)