Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

brother-in-law

/ˈbɹʌðɚ ɪn ˌlɔ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.95 in modern English

Syllables: broth-er-in-law
IPA: /ˈbɹʌðɚ ɪn ˌlɔ/

20

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A male relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage:

noun

A male relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage:

noun

Co-brother-in-law: A male relative of one's generation, separated by two degrees of marriage:

noun

Co-brother-in-law: A male relative of one's generation, separated by two degrees of marriage:

Example Sentences

"The US Securities and Exchange Commission has closed its insider trading investigation into stock trades made by then-Sen. Richard Burr and his brother-in-law at the outset of the pandemic, the former senator announced Friday."
"He was appalled by trench conditions and the prolongation of the war, a disillusionment further encouraged by the Easter rising, in which his brother-in-law, Francis Sheehy-Skeffington (qv), was murdered by a deranged Anglo–Irish officer, J. C. Bowen-Colthurst (qv)."

Etymology

From Middle English brother-in-lawe; equivalent to brother + -in-law.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: brother-in-lawe

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbɹʌðɚ ɪn ˌlɔ/
British English: /ˈbɹʌðəɹ ɪn ˌlɔː/

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Law.

Inflected Forms

brothers-in-law (plural) brethren-in-law (archaic, plural) brother-in-laws (colloquial, nonstandard) brother in law (alternative)

Phrases

co-brother-in-law half brother-in-law co-wife daughter-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law sister-in-law son-in-law

Frequently Paired Words

co-wife daughter-in-law father-in-law mother-in-law sister-in-law son-in-law

Rhymes With

mother-in-law

Questions

How do you pronounce brother-in-law?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɹʌðɚ ɪn ˌlɔ/.
What does brother-in-law mean?: A male relative of one's generation, separated by one degree of marriage:
Where does brother-in-law come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce brother-in-law

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “brother-in-law”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbɹʌðɚ ɪn ˌlɔ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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