Nibling
A gender-neutral word for your sibling's child: a niece, a nephew, or neither.
A nibling is the child of your sibling. It covers nieces and nephews in one word, and it is the right word for a sibling's child who is neither, or whose gender you do not want to assume.
It is a blend of the n of niece and nephew with sibling. Merriam-Webster reports that it is widely credited to the linguist Samuel E. Martin, and that 1951 is the year usually given, though its editors could not find the original source.
It spent decades in obscurity. Merriam-Webster says it had no evidence of the word in use when a reader wrote to ask in 1996. By the mid-2000s it was turning up in British, Australian and American newspapers. As of early 2024 Merriam-Webster had it on its list of words it is watching, but not in its main online dictionary. Dictionary.com does include it.
It matters here for an obvious reason: a [[nonbinary|nonbinary]] kid in the family is not a niece or a nephew, and nibling is simply correct. It also works as a plural that saves a list: my niblings.
The word for the other direction, your parent's sibling, is [[pibling|pibling]].
Nibling is not a cute word for small children
The sound suggests something small, and people sometimes assume it means a baby or a young child. It names a relationship. A forty-year-old can be your nibling.
It is also not only for nonbinary relatives. Many people use it as a plain collective for all their nieces and nephews, the way sibling covers brothers and sisters.
Saying it well
Say this
- My nibling is visiting this weekend.
- I have three niblings.
- My nibling, who is nonbinary, starts university tomorrow.
- Niece, nephew or nibling: whichever they prefer.
Not this
- That is not a real word
- But is it a boy or a girl?
- Using nibling after a relative has asked for niece or nephew
- Mocking a family member who uses it
Questions people actually ask
What is a nibling?
The child of your sibling. It is a gender-neutral word covering nieces, nephews and siblings' children who are neither.
Who coined the word nibling?
It is widely credited to the linguist Samuel E. Martin, usually dated to 1951, though the original source has not been found.
Is nibling in the dictionary?
Dictionary.com includes it. Merriam-Webster was still watching it as of early 2024 rather than listing it in its main online dictionary.
What is the gender-neutral word for aunt or uncle?
Pibling, your parent's sibling.