nephew

Imagine your brother or sister has a son. That boy is your nephew. The word usually means your sibling's son, whether the connection is by birth, marriage, or adoption. People also sometimes use it in a warm, informal way for the son of a very close family friend or someone they treat like family. You might say, "My nephew is coming over this weekend," or "My sister's son is my nephew."

The word "nephew" names a clear family relationship: he is the son of your brother or sister. In everyday English, this is the main meaning people use. If your sister has a baby boy, that child is your nephew. If your brother has an older son, he is also your nephew. The relationship can come through birth, adoption, or marriage, depending on how a family is formed and how people speak about their relatives.

The word is most often used in family talk, personal stories, and introductions. Someone might say, "My nephew starts school next year," or "I'm taking my nephew to the park." It helps show exactly how one person is connected to another inside a family.

Sometimes the word is used more loosely for the son of a very close friend, or for a younger boy within a community that feels like family. Even then, the basic idea stays the same: it points to a younger male in a family-like relationship. In most cases, though, people mean their brother's son or sister's son when they use the word.