Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: brother-in-law?

  1. #1
    English4everyone is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Persian
      • Home Country:
      • Iran
      • Current Location:
      • Iran
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    165

    Default brother-in-law?

    An example:
    I have a wife. My wife has a sister. And she (the sister) is married.
    Question:
    What is the relationship between me and my wife's sister's husband? Is it brother-in-law?

  2. #2
    JohnParis's Avatar
    JohnParis is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • France
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    776
    Teacher

    Default Re: brother-in-law?

    Yes (at least that is what I call my wife's sister's husband).

    John

  3. #3
    Barb_D's Avatar
    Barb_D is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • American English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    11,625

    Default Re: brother-in-law?

    I have jokingly called mine my "brother-in-law-in-law" because it's through two marriages that we are related. But in real situations, like JohnP, I just say "My brother-in-law."

    If it's important that people understand the relationship, you can say "My wife's brother-in-law." That can only come to pass if your wife has a married sister. Your wife's other brothers-in-law can be your own brothers, but you wouldn't refer to them as "you wife's brothers-in-law." You'd just say "my brothers," unless you were trying to be cute.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

  4. #4
    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    4,706

    Default Re: brother-in-law?

    "Brother-in-law" normally refers to two different relationships:

    Your wife's brothers

    Your sisters' husbands


    It's not a huge stretch to use it for your wife's sisters' husbands. There really isn't a better word for such a thing.

  5. #5
    Barb_D's Avatar
    Barb_D is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • American English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    11,625

    Default Re: brother-in-law?

    I don't have a problem with just calling him my brother-in-law.

    We're spending Thanksgiving with my sister-in-law and that guy she married... probably not very gracious.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.

Similar Threads

  1. My brother- and mother-in-law are very friendly.
    By Tan Elaine in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 25-Mar-2011, 12:18
  2. Brother
    By njt2009 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 21-Mar-2010, 21:10
  3. Adopt a law or the law?
    By Elator in forum Editing & Writing Topics
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-Dec-2009, 03:17
  4. brother
    By Unregistered in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-Jul-2007, 14:21
  5. half-brother / step-brother
    By amigo in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 22-Jun-2005, 05:10

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0