nephew
C1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A son of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
A term used in historical or institutional contexts to denote a younger male relative one is responsible for, or to indicate a close, mentor-like relationship to a younger man.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers strictly to a male child of a sibling. The female equivalent is 'niece'. Gender-neutral terms like 'nibling' exist but are non-standard.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Pronunciation differs significantly (see IPA). No major meaning or usage differences.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[possessive determiner] + nephewof + [possessive noun] + nephewVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"He's the spitting image of his uncle" (said of a nephew who looks like his uncle).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used except in family-owned business contexts (e.g., 'He brought his nephew into the firm').
Academic
Used in historical, anthropological, or legal studies discussing kinship structures.
Everyday
Common in family discussions and social introductions.
Technical
Used in genealogy, family law, and inheritance documentation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is my nephew, Leo.
- My nephew is five years old.
- I'm going to visit my nephew in Manchester this weekend.
- Her nephew looks very much like his father.
- As the eldest nephew, he was expected to take a leading role in the family business.
- My nephew, whom I haven't seen in years, is studying abroad.
- The duke bequeathed a substantial portion of his estate to his favourite nephew.
- Acting as a mentor to his nephew, he instilled in him a strong sense of professional ethics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'NEPHEW' = 'Near, Except it's Parents, He's Your nephew'. The 'PH' can sound like 'F' or 'V'.
Conceptual Metaphor
KINSHIP IS A TREE (branch of the family tree).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- In Russian, "племянник" covers both 'nephew' and the male child of a cousin, which is not the case in English. English requires 'first cousin once removed' or similar.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'nefew'. Confusing 'nephew' with 'cousin'. Using incorrect possessive (e.g., 'the nephew of Peter' vs. 'Peter's nephew').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct definition of 'nephew'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In English, the child of your cousin is your 'first cousin once removed' or simply referred to as a 'cousin's child'. 'Nephew' is strictly for the son of your sibling or sibling-in-law.
The female equivalent is 'niece'.
In American English, it is commonly pronounced as /ˈnefjuː/ (NEFF-yoo) or /ˈnevjuː/ (NEV-yoo). The pronunciation with a 'v' sound is more common in the US than in the UK.
Yes, historically and in some formal/institutional contexts (e.g., the church, fraternal orders), 'nephew' could be used to denote a younger male protege or a younger relative one has taken under one's wing, though this is now archaic.
Collections
Part of a collection
Family Members
A1 · 44 words · Words for family, people and relationships at home.