Schwägerschaft

the collective body of brothers- and sisters-in-law

noun SHVAE-ger-shahft Rare

Also means

in-law relationship

Usage Note

Schwägerschaft is the relationship by marriage (affinity) and, collectively, one's siblings-in-law (Schwager, Schwägerin). It is mainly a legal/genealogical term; in everyday speech these relatives are named individually.

Examples

"Bei Familienfeiern versammelt sich immer die gesamte Schwägerschaft."

Natural Translation

The entire group of siblings-in-law always gathers at family celebrations.

Literal Translation

At family-celebrations always gathers itself the entire in-law-group.

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