Nephew: meaning, definitions and examples

🧒
Add to dictionary

nephew

 

[ ˈnɛf.juː ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

family relation

A nephew is the son of one's brother or sister. This term can also refer to the son of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law. Nephews are often viewed as part of an extended family network.

Synonyms

kinsman, relative

Examples of usage

  • My nephew loves to play soccer.
  • She often takes her nephew to the zoo.
  • He is very proud of his smart nephew.
  • My sister just had a baby boy, making me an uncle to a new nephew.

Translations

Translations of the word "nephew" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sobrinho

🇮🇳 भतीजा

🇩🇪 Neffe

🇮🇩 keponakan

🇺🇦 племінник

🇵🇱 siostrzeniec

🇯🇵 

🇫🇷 neveu

🇪🇸 sobrino

🇹🇷 yeğen

🇰🇷 조카

🇸🇦 ابن الأخ

🇨🇿 synovec

🇸🇰 synovec

🇨🇳 侄子

🇸🇮 nečak

🇮🇸 frændi

🇰🇿 жиен

🇬🇪 ძმისშვილი

🇦🇿 qardaş oğlu

🇲🇽 sobrino

Word origin

The word 'nephew' comes from the Latin word 'nepos', which means 'nephew' or 'grandson'. This Latin term has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European word '*nepōts', which carries the same meaning. The transition from Latin to Middle English saw the word adopt a form similar to 'nephew'. Over the centuries, the spelling and pronunciation of 'nephew' have evolved, reflecting changes in English dialects and influences from Old French, where the term was 'neveu'. The word has remained in use in English since the 14th century and is a vital part of familial terminology, indicating the nuanced relationships within a family structure.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,365 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.