Nibling Is a New Word for Niece or Nephew
A niece is a sibling's daughter. English has no traditional word covering both nieces and nephews, so one was invented.
A niece is the daughter of your brother or sister. English has parent for mother and father and sibling for brother and sister, but no traditional word covering niece and nephew together. *Nibling* was coined for the gap by a linguist in 1951, built on the pattern of sibling, and it has spread steadily since. *Niece* once meant granddaughter as well, and Latin *neptis* covered both relationships.
- A sibling's daughter. *My niece.*
- Nephew — a sibling's son. *My nephew.*
- Nibling — the coined collective. *My niblings.*
- Great-niece — a niece's daughter. *A great-niece.*
- Latin — *neptis*, granddaughter or niece. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | niece | One niece. |
| Plural | nieces | Two nieces. |
| Male | nephew | A nephew. |
| Collective | nibling | A nibling. |
| Latin | neptis | Niece. |
- My niece turns ten this year.Family.
- Nibling covers both nieces and nephews.Coinage.
- Niece once meant granddaughter too.History.
Gaps English filled with coinages
- Nibling — niece or nephew, coined 1951
- Sibling — revived in the twentieth century from an Old English word
- Ms — a title not marking marital status
- They — used as a singular for centuries, now standard
- Some coinages stick, most do not
Old French *niece*, from Latin *neptis*, granddaughter or niece, the feminine of *nepos*, grandson or nephew.
What is a nibling?
A coined word for a niece or nephew, formed on the pattern of sibling. It dates from 1951 and is now in growing use.
Did niece once mean granddaughter?
Yes. The Latin neptis covered both, and English used niece for granddaughter into the early modern period.