From time immemorial, in many cultures it was believed: to marry children - to become related by families. In Russia, the new marriage union also meant the emergence of many bloodless relatives. Sisters and brothers of the husband and wife, as well as parents, uncles and aunts, were considered “native” to each other. Often, all relatives communicated regularly, and on holidays gathered together at a huge table. Today, large and friendly families are a real rarity. Many of us do not know who should be called daughter-in-law, and whom - brother-in-law. And who is son-in-law?
New relative of the bride's parents
When the couple’s relationship has reached its climax, and an agreement on a wedding has been reached, a young man showing interest in the girl is called the groom. His beloved is appropriate to call the bride. These definitions show the relationship of young people in a pair to each other. However, third parties can say so about them, for example: “Look out my girlfriend’s groom” or “This is my son’s bride”. After marriage, the newlyweds become husband and wife to each other. And who is son-in-law? This word is called the husband of the daughter by her parents. In short, the son-in-law is the daughter’s husband. After the wedding, the
wife of his
son is his daughter-in-law.
When is it still appropriate to use the definition of “son-in-law”?
Sometimes a brief definition of her daughter’s husband is also used by other members of her family. It is considered appropriate if the son-in-law of the woman’s spouse is called her sisters. The brothers of the wife can use this word in relation to her husband. In Russian today there is no separate word for determining the
degree of kinship between spouses of siblings in relation to each other. Therefore, if it is necessary to explain who the
husband of the sister and the wife of the brother of this woman belong to each other, a universal definition can also be used. Nevertheless, in the modern world, the following answer to the question of who the son-in-law is: the spouse of the daughter / sister is most popular. To determine a more “complex” relationship, detailed sentences with explanations are usually used.
Alternative Names for Daughter's Husband
In our country, the relationship between son-in-law and mother-in-law is a popular topic for not very decent jokes. Therefore, many do not like these definitions of kinship. Often you can hear from the wife’s parents: son-in-law is our son. Accordingly, the husband in this case calls the parents of his wife “mom” and “dad”. If the relations between the new relatives are not so close, more formal appeals will be more appropriate. Remember that detailed explanations of kinship are also acceptable, for example: “This is my daughter’s husband” or “My wife’s parents say ...”
Folklore and real family relationships
There are many proverbs and jokes about how mother-in-law and son-in-law relate to each other. Unfortunately, in reality, these relatives are not always supportive of each other. There are several reasons for this antipathy: of course, mom and dad want all the best for their child and therefore can be meticulous about their daughter's choice. And it is difficult for a young husband to quickly adapt after marriage and understand that he, an adult man, has second parents who are ready to evaluate his actions and “teach life”. Nevertheless, both parties should be more tolerant of each other and try to find a common language. Just throwing away all prejudices and trying to get to know each other better, you can make friends and really become one family. Follow simple rules of mutual respect and try to prevent emerging conflicts in time. And then, quite possibly, one day the mother of the wife herself will say: “Who is the son-in-law? I have one more son! ” Or the husband himself, speaking of his wife’s mother, the first will call her instead of “mother-in-law” the affectionate word “mother”.