Is there an English word for distant niece?

Question

Hi,I have a niece whose mother is my sister but not direct sister, my father and the niece's grandfather are cousin. I just wondering is there an English word for niece who is your distant relative?Thanks a lot!

Khoff · Accepted Answer

Anonymouswhose mother is my sister but not direct sister

Could you explain what you mean by this?

Anonymousmy father and the niece's grandfather are cousin

It sounds to me like we would probably call the "niece" a "cousin," or "a distant cousin." (There might be a more precise term a geneology expert would us, like "second cousin once removed," but most people would just say "cousin.") We talk about distant cousins, but not distant nieces.

I would use the word "niece" to mean the daughter of my sister or brother, or the daughter of my husband's sister or brother. That niece's daughter would be my great-niece. I can't tell if the person you are calling your niece fits into this category, because I don't know what you mean by "not direct sister."

It would be interesting to know where you are from. We recently learned (here on English Forums) that in the Hindu culture, some people that we would consider cousins are called brother-in-law or sister-in-law instead. It's really interesting how relationships that we think are well-defined are considered differently in different parts of the world.

(Edited, because I seem to be incapable of spelling "niece" correctly on the first try.)

BarbaraPA · Answer

Based on what I was able to follow, she is your second cousin once removed.
Your father and her grandfather are actually first cousins, if they share the same grandfather. That means that you and her mother are second cousins. As her child, she is your second cousin once removed.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for your reply. Yes. Me and her mother are second cousins. Do you mean she is my second niece? Is it a normal usuage to say "first cousins", "second cousins" in English? What do you mean "once removed"? Thanks.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for you reply. The reason why I ask this question is because I need to fill a formal document in Australia to state the relationship between me and my niece. I am not sure whether I should just say "She is my relative" or "She is my niece". I came from Chinese background. The problem is she is not my immediate niece. Her grandfather and my father are actually cousins. That's why I said her mother was not my direct sister, i.e. not really my siblings. Thanks.

BarbaraPA · Answer

She is not your niece at all.
The daughter of your sister or brother (a person you share a parent with) is your niece.

Removed refers to generations.

The exact nature of your relationship is exactly as I said above: She is your second cousin once removed.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

You are fortunate that GG is giving you great information.

But let me add this.
In my experience, many English speakers do not have any clear understnding of these distant relationships. For example, if someone talks to me about his second cousin once removed, I really don't know what that means. I just think, 'Oh, a relative'.

Clive

BarbaraPA · Answer

Oh yeah, me too. With my northern relatives, they're just "cousins" or "relatives" and with my southern relatives, they're just "kin."

But if the form has asked the specific relationship, that's the answer.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks. I do believe they have a clear understanding of the relationships. They just don't have a proper word for it. They simply call everyone by first name.

Is there an English word for distant niece?

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