December 03 2011

Auntiedisestablishmentarianism

tree While our noodles are still fresh from all that recent word-coining (and yes the Neology results are set to be posted this arvo), I thought you may appreciate this challenge from an emailer named Mel. Her family dynamics have gone to expose a gap in English, which Mel outlines:

One of my sisters is the only person in our family to have a niece and a nephew. Is there a word that encompasses both, as ‘sibling’ does for brother & sister?

Sounds simple enough, but the word’s not cousin. Or nephice. What is it? And if English can’t provide a proper answer, then let’s make one up to offer the Macquarie’s next inventory.

Comments

Sam — 03 December at 01:33PM

'niblings' seems to be accepted in the online slang/urban dictionaries - but then what is the collective term for Aunts and Uncles?

DA — 03 December at 01:36PM

Dutch parents? Oldsters? Siblents?

I reckon Mel has pinpointed a major blind spot - two lacunas with your point Sam - and in such a critical domain too.

RobT — 03 December at 01:39PM

Agonadal Aunt?

RobT — 03 December at 01:45PM

...lacunae...

Collective term for Aunts and Uncles? "FCP"s aka first cousins' parents?

Sam — 03 December at 01:57PM

I like Dutch parents. Cogags (cognates and agnates?)

RK — 03 December at 02:01PM

Nipoti is Italian for nieces and nephews. Maybe we could just borrow that one in the time-honoured English tradition.

Criseyde — 03 December at 02:22PM

Sam, clognates? (groan)

RK, was gonna say the same... borrow from Italian. It's interesting that's where we supposedly get the word nepotism ... from the power of the Pope's supposed nephew.

Adult migrant English students often used to ask me for words to describe a relationship not expressed in English, one (I think) in Chinese for the relationship between parents and parents-in-law.

AC — 03 December at 07:03PM

I agree with RK -- nipoti for nieces and nephews -- but if we insist on uniqueness, my suggestion is neplets.

Geoff Bailey — 03 December at 08:08PM

I've tended to use "nephren" for this in the past.

Nib — 03 December at 11:51PM

My family is riddled with niblings.

Mel — 09 December at 04:51PM

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I've been studying Italian so know that this kind of word does exist in some languages... so I'm happy to go with nipoti! (although its hard to resist a nibling....)

jim — 09 December at 10:46PM

My sister Michaeley coined the term 'nephlings' and now we all use it.

Sand in me undies — 09 December at 11:01PM

I like that!