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cognata

sister-in-law

noun koh-NYAH-tah Rare
People & Society Family

Origin: From Latin cognata, 'related by birth'.

Usage Note

Cognata is the feminine form; the masculine is cognato (brother-in-law). They refer specifically to the spouse's sibling or a sibling's spouse — Italian has precise kinship terms where English often uses 'in-law'. The plural is cognate (f) / cognati (m or mixed). Not to be confused with cugina (female cousin).

Examples

"Mia cognata abita a Roma."

Natural Translation

My sister-in-law lives in Rome.

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