nephew
NEHV-yoo
Nephew (noun) means the son of one's brother or sister, or of one's sibling-in-law. Example: “Our youngest nephew insists on showing everyone his collection of toy trains.”
noun
1
The son of one's brother or sister, or of one's sibling-in-law.
"Our youngest nephew insists on showing everyone his collection of toy trains."
"My nephew just started his first year of university."
"She sent her nephew a birthday card every year."
How to use nephew
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishYour sibling's son.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
my nephew
nephew and niece
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Word forms
- Plural
- nephews
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our youngest _____ insists on showing everyone his collection of toy trains.
Etymology
From Old French neveu, from Latin nepos ("grandson, descendant"). The modern -ph- spelling arose later from association with the Latin form, which eventually changed the way English speakers pronounced the word.
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “nephew” mean?
The word “nephew” means the son of one's brother or sister, or of one's sibling-in-law. In plain terms, your sibling's son.
How do you pronounce “nephew”?
“Nephew” is pronounced NEHV-yoo (/ˈnɛf.ju/ in IPA).
How do you use “nephew” in a sentence?
Here is “nephew” used in a sentence: “My nephew just started his first year of university.”
What part of speech is “nephew”?
“Nephew” is a noun.
Where does the word “nephew” come from?
The word “nephew” comes from Latin. From Old French neveu, from Latin nepos ("grandson, descendant"). The modern -ph- spelling arose later from association with the Latin form, which eventually changed the way English speakers pronounced the word.
Is “nephew” a common word?
“Nephew” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a nephew and a niece?
A nephew is the son of your brother or sister, while a niece is the daughter. Both words also cover the children of your spouse's siblings — your siblings-in-law. Nephew is always male; niece is always female.
Is my cousin's son my nephew?
Formally, no: your cousin's son is your first cousin once removed, not your nephew. Nephew is reserved for the son of your brother, sister, or sibling-in-law. Some families do use nephew loosely for a cousin's child, but that is informal rather than the standard meaning.
What is a great-nephew?
A great-nephew — also called a grand-nephew — is the son of your nephew or niece, making him your brother's or sister's grandson. Both terms are correct and widely understood, with great-nephew the more common in everyday speech.
Is there a gender-neutral word for nephews and nieces?
The informal coinage nibling is increasingly used to cover nephews and nieces together, but it remains colloquial and is not found in all dictionaries. In formal writing, "nephews and nieces" is still the standard wording.
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