Sister's father-in-law. Names of future relatives: who is related to whom after the wedding

Kinship is one of the most important organizational components of society. In any country in the world you will find a division into relatives in society. This social institution connects individuals and groups and establishes certain relationships between them. Therefore, it is so important to know all degrees of relationship, for example, who the brothers’ wives are in relation to each other.

Division of kinship into degrees

The main type of legal relationship between people living together is marriage and reproduction. Relations between relatives are based on blood relations (consanguineous) or marriage (affine)

  1. Consanguineous relationships. This degree of relationship is based on blood, meaning the relationship between parents and children, also among brothers and sisters.
  2. Affinity is based on marriage. The relationship between spouses is the main family ties.

Relationships between people depend on the level of intimacy. Intimacy is based on how these people are connected to each other.

Primary relationship

Basic kinship is based on direct family relationships. Persons or people who are directly related are considered primary in the nature of the family. Primary kinship is further divided into two:

  1. Primary Consanguinity: This relationship refers to those relatives who are directly related to each other by birth. For example, parents, children, brothers, sisters.
  2. Primary Relationship: The connections that come with marriage are considered primary. Direct primary affine kinship is the relationship between spouses. That is, despite the fact that the spouses are not related by blood, nevertheless, they are the closest relatives to each other.

Secondary kinship

This is already the second degree of family relationship. There are two types of secondary kinship:

  1. Secondary blood. The main example of secondary consanguinity is the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, aunts, uncles and nephews.
  2. Secondary related. As an example, we can cite all the relatives of the spouses:
  • husband's parents - father-in-law, mother-in-law;
  • husband's brother - brother-in-law;
  • wife's brother-in-law;
  • husband's sister - sister-in-law;
  • wife's sister - sister-in-law;
  • a son's wife in relation to his father, mother, brothers, sisters is a daughter-in-law;
  • the daughter's husband is her father, mother, brothers, sisters - son-in-law;

Cousins ​​will be called the same, with the prefix of the word “cousin, cousin.”

Tertiary relationship

This is the secondary relationship of our primary relatives or first-born relatives with their relatives. A confusing concept, but in life it can all be explained much more simply. For example, your husband's sister's husband will be considered a tertiary relative.

The degrees of relatives in this case are determined as follows:

  • the father of one of the spouses who is the parents of the other spouse - matchmaker;
  • the wife of one brother is the wife of another brother - an intercourse;
  • The sisters' husbands are brothers-in-law.

The importance of kinship

The kinship system implies unity, harmony and cooperation between all members of the kinship. Family ties establishes recommendations for convenient interaction between people:

  • the presence of a marriage taboo - close blood relatives cannot marry;
  • regulation of the behavior of different relatives according to the social hierarchy - as a rule, the younger generation listens to the representatives of the older;
  • regulating relations with each other in public and official life.

Family ties are usually very strong in rural areas and Asian countries. So, people of these countries must know all their relatives up to the seventh generation, so as not to accidentally marry a blood sister or niece, even a second cousin. They also strictly regulate the rules of conduct for specific family members. Thus, a daughter-in-law must obey not only her husband, but all his relatives who are older than her.

Of course, it is not so important what your brothers and sisters' husband or wife are called. Internal relationships in the family are much more important. In close-knit families there are no daughters-in-law or sons-in-law; they are usually called sons and daughters. This is the most correct related degree. But, nevertheless, there is an official hierarchy of family ties, which makes life much easier when understanding who we are to each other.

So that at the banquet the offers “Dance with your brother-in-law” and “Take a photo with your brother-in-law” do not mislead your couple, before the wedding you should clearly master the names of family ranks.

Mother in law- husband's mother. The etymology of this word conceals the enormous importance of the mother-in-law in the life of a young couple. “Mother-in-law” used to be pronounced “all-blood,” which indicated her duty to unite all blood relatives among themselves.

After the wedding, the groom's father becomes father-in-law. Curious traditions associated with father-in-law still exist among the Caucasian peoples. For example, in many villages of Ossetia, a young wife does not have the right to talk with her husband’s relatives until her father-in-law gives her a gift. This could be clothing, jewelry or household items. If, after a few weeks or months, the girl again receives a gift from him, and a more expensive one, this signals that the bride talks a lot and should behave more modestly.

After the wedding, all the husband's relatives call the girl daughter-in-law, with the exception of the father-in-law. He has it daughter-in-law(although now quite often the father of the groom calls his son’s wife daughter-in-law, finding it more euphonious).

The word "daughter-in-law" comes from the verb "to demolish." In Rus', it was customary for newlyweds to live in the groom’s house after the wedding, and the daughter-in-law had to endure reproaches for poorly done work and get used to new living conditions.

brother-in-law- Brother husband. The brother-in-law was always considered one of the people closest to the newlyweds, but the sister-in-law, the husband’s sister, who was constantly jealous of her beloved brother for his betrothed, on the contrary, was considered as one of the main provocateurs of family quarrels. The rite of sister-in-law itself arose from the rite of sister-in-law, when the groom’s sister, after the wedding and before the wedding feast, sprinkled ash from the stove on her daughter-in-law, thus introducing her to the brownie.

mother-in-law- wife's mother. The mother-in-law is one of the most active participants in the wedding process: supervision of the celebration often falls entirely on her shoulders. The relationship between a mother-in-law and her son-in-law (daughter's husband) can be quite tense, which is reflected in folklore.

Father-in-law- wife's father. As a rule, communication between father-in-law and son-in-law is affable and friendly, which is explained by the emotional restraint of men. In addition, usually father-in-law and son-in-law are brought together by common hobbies: football, books, and simply male solidarity.

The wife's parents act as a matchmaker in relation to the husband's parents, and they, in turn, also act as a matchmaker and matchmaker for the girl's father and mother. By the way, people who carry out the matchmaking ceremony are often called matchmaker and matchmaker (or also matchmaker).

Brother-in-law- brother-in-law. It was believed that a brother-in-law would always stand up for his sister, so in the old days, during family disagreements, the girl complained about her problems to her brother.

sister-in-law(one's own, dear) - wife's sister. If the sister-in-law is not married, then she often acts at the wedding either as a witness or as one of the bridesmaids. The sister-in-law's husband is the brother-in-law. The brother-in-law does not have much influence on the life of the young couple. The brother-in-law's child becomes a nephew or niece to your couple.

If your spouse or you have children from previous marriages, they are called stepdaughter(girl) and stepson(boy). A stepparent in relation to a stepdaughter and stepson is called a stepfather or stepmother. And your stepdaughter and stepson will be your half-sister and half-brother.

By the way, psychologists note that many couples needlessly worry about strained relationships between step-sisters and step-brothers. It's only a matter of time. Stepsisters and stepbrothers usually become each other's best friends in a short time.

Nowadays families are not as big as they used to be. It is enough to know who grandchildren, nephews, grandmothers, grandfathers, and cousins ​​are. And everyone else is simply called relatives. But unlike other languages, Russian is not greedy; it has its own name for everyone. It’s not easy to thoroughly figure out who is related to whom among relatives, and if the relatives of one of the spouses have been added, then it will take a couple of days to remember. To make this process easier, www..

Names of blood relatives

Before moving on to the names of future relatives, first you should figure out who belongs to whom and by whom in your family. There are several degrees of relationship, they count from the first to the sixth, since then the connections become too distant. So, the degrees are in descending order:

  1. Father - son/daughter, mother - son/daughter.
  2. Grandfather/grandmother - grandchildren.
  3. Great-grandfather/great-grandmother - great-grandchildren, uncles/aunts - nephews.
  4. Cousins/brothers, great-aunts/grandfathers - great-nephews/nieces.
  5. Cousins/aunts - cousins/nephews/nieces.
  6. Second cousins ​​and brothers.


Uncles/aunts are the brothers/sisters of the mother or father, as well as their spouses, but wives and husbands, of course, are no longer blood relatives. There is also the concept of great and little uncles/aunts. The sister and brother of the grandfather/grandmother were called first, and the father/mother was called second. Nowadays they are simply called great-aunts/uncles and great-aunts/uncles.

Simply, nephews are the children of brothers/sisters, great-nephews, and, respectively, their grandchildren. But any second cousins ​​are also called grandchildren. Cousins ​​today are often called cousins ​​in the Western manner and their old Russian names - sister and brother - have been completely forgotten. Although the latter is popular in certain youth circles, it does not imply blood relationship. By the way, if you are thinking about how to distribute responsibilities at a wedding, then keep in mind that everyone can be involved in organizing the celebration, even people of the sixth degree of kinship, if, of course, you are familiar with them.


The rite of baptism is important for many families; it is believed that the earlier it is carried out, the better. Therefore, as a rule, a child already has new relatives in the first year of life, and what are the names of the relatives who came to the family in this case, we all know well - godparents, father and mother, among themselves and in relation to the child’s natural parents they are considered godfathers and godfather. The godson and goddaughter, respectively, are the girl and boy they baptized. Further, the word godfather (godmother) is added to all relatives on this side. But cross brothers or sisters have a different meaning. This is the name given to people who themselves exchanged crosses. In addition to godparents, there may also be imprisoned parents. This is the name given to those who replace their relatives father and mother at the wedding ceremony.


Not blood, but close

There are cases when people who are not related by blood become a family, for example, when a man and a woman get married, having children from previous marriages, or spouses adopt a child. In this case, family members will be called:

  • stepmother - stepmother,
  • stepfather - stepfather,
  • stepson - step-son,
  • stepdaughter - stepdaughter,
  • named son - adopted,
  • named daughter - adopted,
  • the named mother and father are the adoptive parents,
  • half-brothers and sisters - natural and step-children of each other.

Also, non-relatives but close ones include people whose names these days can be found more often in films and books than in reality:

  • milk mother - a woman who nursed a step-child in relation to him,
  • foster brother or sister - children who are not related to each other, raised by the same woman,
  • uncle, mother - a man or woman who looks after and raises a child, today better known as nannies and nannies.


Kinship by property or who is who after marriage

As soon as the young people officially became husband and wife, the number of family ties of each of them multiplied by two. And it would be good to know what the relatives you just acquired are called, because in many families it is still customary to address each other according to a long-established tradition. Let's figure out who is related to whom after the wedding.


Husband, wife and their parents

Everything is simple here, the names of mothers and fathers of spouses are well-known today and are still actively used. The wife's parents are father-in-law and mother-in-law, the husband's parents are father-in-law and mother-in-law. Between themselves, fathers are matchmakers, and mothers are matchmakers. And they were called that because it was with their participation that the bride’s matchmaking ceremony took place. After the wedding, the wife receives the status of daughter-in-law or daughter-in-law (for the husband's father), and the husband - son-in-law. Interestingly, in the Russian language there is a special word for a husband who has settled with his wife’s parents - primak. Previously, this was not accepted, apparently, which is why popular rumor especially singled out such husbands.


Brothers and sisters of young people with their spouses

The husband's brother and sister are respectively called brother-in-law and sister-in-law, while the wife's brother and sister are called brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Speakers of the Eastern European dialect also call the brothers on both sides Schwagers.

As for the brothers' wives, their names and who they are to each other, the Russian language does not skimp on names. There are more of them than for any other relatives - yatrovki, consorts, and in some regions, like the husband's sister, they are called sister-in-law. Accordingly, brothers' wives are also called in relation to each other.

As soon as a person is born, at that very moment he has relatives. Grandfather, grandmother, sister, brother, father, mother are quite familiar names for relatives. Most likely, there will be no difficulties with orientation here, so explanations will be superfluous.

Time does not stand still, and the once small child grows up, then finds a life partner, seals his union with legal marriage, and has new relatives.

In order to understand the meanings and names of new relatives, you should turn to dictionaries of the modern Russian literary language. Although, now not all words are used equally. A person understands them without any explanation, although he rarely uses their correct name.


Let's look at the main names of newly made relatives

  • The husband's parents are mother-in-law and father-in-law.
  • My husband's sister is my sister-in-law.
  • The wife's parents are mother-in-law, father-in-law.
  • Parents of spouses in relation to each other are a matchmaker.
  • Sister-in-law's husband, sister's husband, daughter's husband - son-in-law.
  • A woman who is married to her husband's relatives, spouses of sisters and brothers, mother, father - daughter-in-law (daughter-in-law).
  • My husband's brother is my brother-in-law.
  • My wife's brother is my brother-in-law.
  • Husbands of sisters are brothers-in-law
  • Daughter, son of a relative's aunt and uncle - cousin, brother.
  • The children of sisters and brothers are nephews.
  • Children of first cousins ​​are first cousins.
  • The grandchildren of a sister or brother are great-nephews.
  • In relation to your nephews, children of your sister or brother - aunt, uncle.
  • Cousin, (brother) of mother or father - great aunt (uncle).
  • Aunt, (uncle) on the mother's or father's side - great-aunt (grandfather).
  • Wife's sister - sister-in-law
  • Children who are not related by blood to the spouses - stepson, stepdaughter.
  • A woman who becomes the father's wife and has no biological connection with the child becomes his stepmother. The man who became the mother's husband is the stepfather.
  • A son-in-law who lives with his wife's family is a primak.
  • Most often, cousins ​​or friends who helped each other out in difficult times are brothers-in-arms.
  • Godmother and godfather are godfather and godfather.


Let's take a closer look at this name for relatives like mother-in-law. So, with good-natured, warm relationships in the family, as well as with good mutual understanding between son-in-law and mother-in-law, most often the son-in-law calls her mom. Today in real life it is quite difficult to meet a grumpy and angry mother-in-law; most often this image remains in jokes. The way of modern families allows the mother-in-law to take on all the responsibilities of a second mother, because she prepares delicious lunches and dinners, washes and mends clothes, and helps raise grandchildren. There are even cases when, after the divorce of the spouses, the former mother-in-law continues to maintain warm relations with the former son-in-law.


In addition to the main names of relatives listed above, there are the concepts of half-blooded and half-uterine relatives. This is when there is no direct blood relationship between relatives, sisters and brothers, i.e. they have one father, but they were born from different mothers, or when there are different fathers, and the children are born from the same mother. Half-sisters and brothers are also called persons who have no relationship, i.e. they do not have common parents. Sisters and brothers who were suckled by the same woman are considered milk-bearing.

Do you find it difficult to determine who is your brother-in-law and who is your brother-in-law? Are you confused about who to call yourself – daughter-in-law or sister-in-law? Before you get married, learning the names of all these countless related names is simply necessary! By the way, it is in the Russian language that all these names are especially complex; in any foreign language you will not find such confusion. So, we learn the names of family ranks.

Let's start with a word known to all brides - “mother-in-law”, under which the spouse’s mother is hidden. In this word, its etymology is very important. Did you know that previously the groom’s mother was called “all-blood,” which meant her direct responsibility was to be the center of the family and unite all relatives. If your newly-made mother-in-law begins to forget about this duty and nagging your young wife, give her lectures on the etymology of the Russian language. More respect for sure! And to soften up your “mother”, try calling her affectionately – mother-in-law. The roots of the eternal war between a young wife and her husband’s mother can be found in old Russian sayings: “The mother-in-law remembers her youth and does not believe her daughter-in-law.” Love is like a mother-in-law's fist, says another proverb.

Accordingly, the father of the groom is called father-in-law. The father-in-law, or father-in-law, often acted as the hero of old Russian proverbs. The father-in-law is a thunderstorm, and the mother-in-law will take her eyes out - isn’t it true, our ancestors were optimists? In any case, the image of the father-in-law is more positive than that of his wife. And in practice, the husband’s father is usually loyal to his young wife and does not reproach her for an insufficiently clean apartment or a meal made from semi-finished products.

It is also important to know who you are to your mother-in-law and father-in-law. For your father-in-law, you are now a daughter-in-law, but for all other relatives on your husband’s side, you are a daughter-in-law. It should be noted that this rule is now rarely used. In most cases, both father-in-law and mother-in-law call their son's wife daughter-in-law. The etymology of the word “daughter-in-law” is “son,” that is, “son’s wife.” The word is also associated with the verb “to demolish,” hinting at the hardships awaiting the girl in her new home.

The name “daughter-in-law” comes from “bride”, which in this case can mean “who knows who” - let us recall that earlier in Rus' girls from foreign tribes were often taken as wives and they were called “brides” as strangers and foreigners. There are many sayings about daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law in the Russian language. “Even if the daughter-in-law is a fool, if only the fire would blow early”, “They beat the cat, and give the daughter-in-law advice”, “The cuckoo scolds the nightingale, the mother-in-law scolds the daughter-in-law” - all that remains is to once again be amazed at the kind attitude of our ancestors towards the new family member and rejoice that we We live in the 21st century.

Having dealt with the closest new relatives, let's delve further. The husband's brother is the young wife's brother-in-law. The husband's sister is called sister-in-law. It has long been believed that the brother-in-law is a positive character who has a sincere attitude towards his brother’s wife, while the image of the sister-in-law has invariably been negative - a kind of jealous person, dissatisfied with the fact that the attention of her beloved brother will now extend to the new woman in her family. However, the word "sister-in-law" is not associated with "evil" as it may seem. This name comes from the rite of calling, during which the husband’s sister sprinkled the bride with ash from the stove, introducing the girl to the family brownie in such an original way.

Let's focus on my wife's side of the family. Her mother, as you know, is called mother-in-law, and her father is called father-in-law. The relationship between the mother-in-law and the son-in-law (this is what the young husband is now called) has always been tense and conflicting, which is reflected in Russian folklore. On the contrary, father-in-law and son-in-law have always been considered friends and congenial people. However, Russian folklore also knows pleasant exceptions. “A good mother-in-law’s son-in-law is his most beloved son,” “A mother-in-law’s son-in-law and matchmaker are the first guests.”

A wife's brother is a brother-in-law to her husband, and a sister is a sister-in-law. The sister's husband is considered a brother-in-law. The etymology of these words is simple - one’s own people, relatives and friends. A sister-in-law and brother-in-law often act as godparents to a young couple's child.

If one of the spouses has children from a previous marriage, they are called a stepdaughter (girl) and stepson (boy). Accordingly, dad's new wife is their stepmother, and mom's new husband is their stepfather.