niece
nees
Niece (noun) means the daughter of one's brother, sister, or their spouse. Example: “My niece is turning ten next month.”
noun
1
The daughter of one's brother, sister, or their spouse.
"My niece just celebrated her 15th birthday."
"My niece is turning ten next month."
"She took her niece to the zoo for her birthday."
"Our niece sent us a lovely drawing of her new puppy."
How to use niece
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA brother's or sister's daughter.
Common mistake
Niece is female; nephew is the male equivalent — easy to mix up when speaking quickly.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- nieces
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My _____ is turning ten next month.
Etymology
From Old French nece, ultimately from Latin neptis ("granddaughter"). The Latin word originally covered granddaughters as well as nieces before the meanings split.
Synonyms
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nift
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for niece
See all rhymes for niece →Frequently asked questions
What does “niece” mean?
The word “niece” means the daughter of one's brother, sister, or their spouse. In plain terms, a brother's or sister's daughter.
How do you pronounce “niece”?
“Niece” is pronounced nees (/nis/ in IPA).
How do you use “niece” in a sentence?
Here is “niece” used in a sentence: “My niece is turning ten next month.”
What is another word for “niece”?
Words with a similar meaning to “niece” include nift.
What is the opposite of “niece”?
The opposite of “niece” — its antonyms — are nephew, aunt and uncle.
What part of speech is “niece”?
“Niece” is a noun.
Where does the word “niece” come from?
The word “niece” comes from Latin. From Old French nece, ultimately from Latin neptis ("granddaughter"). The Latin word originally covered granddaughters as well as nieces before the meanings split.
Is “niece” a common word?
“Niece” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a niece and a nephew?
A niece is the daughter of one's brother, sister, or their spouse, while a nephew is the son of one's brother, sister, or their spouse. The terms distinguish gender within the same family relationship.
What is the difference between a niece and a cousin?
A niece is specifically the daughter of one's brother, sister, or their spouse, one generation below oneself, while a cousin is typically the child of one's aunt or uncle, in the same generation. A niece is closer in the family tree than a cousin.
Is a niece related by blood or marriage?
A niece can be related either by blood, as the daughter of one's brother or sister, or by marriage, as the daughter of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law's spouse. Both relationships are commonly referred to using the same term, niece.
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