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Glite Dictionary
friend-in-law

friend-in-law

9.3
A friend who is also family through marriage, for example your spouse's brother
  • noun
  • /frɛnd ɪn lɔ/
translation icon : cuñado
  • My sister's husband is my friend-in-law.

Examples

  • I became good friends with my friend-in-law after my sister's wedding.

  • Do you think we can invite our friends-in-law to the wedding?

  • My friend-in-law is always invited to our family dinners.

  • She shares a close bond with her friend-in-law from her husband's side.

  • I became good friends with my friend-in-law after my sister's wedding.

  • My friend-in-law is always invited to our family dinners.

  • She shares a close bond with her friend-in-law from her husband's side.

Surface Forms

friend-in-law singular
friends-in-law plural

Morphology

friend-in-law = friend + in-law (semi-transparent) = friend + in-law

The components 'friend' and 'in-law' are clear, but the specific meaning of a friend related by marriage is a specialized extension.

Etymology

The word friend-in-law is made from friend and in-law, where in-law names a relative 'by marriage', as in sister-in-law. So friend-in-law means a friend who is also family because of marriage.