zwager

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch swager, from Old Dutch *swāgar, from Proto-Germanic *swēgraz.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzʋaː.ɣər/

• audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: zwa‧ger
• Rhymes: -aːɣər

Noun

zwager m (plural zwagers, diminutive zwagertje n)

1. (chiefly Netherlands) brother-in-law (brother of one's spouse or husband of one's sibling)

Usage notes

The word zwager is mostly used in the Netherlands. In Belgium the common word for “brother-in-law” is schoonbroer.

Descendants

• Afrikaans: swaer
• → Papiamentu: swa, sua
  • → Dutch: swa
• → Sranan Tongo: swagri
  • → Aukan: swagi
  • → Caribbean Javanese: swagri
  • → Saramaccan: suwági