Nièce

Nièce is the French noun for a female child of one's brother or sister. The masculine counterpart is neveu. The term denotes a kinship relationship that is part of a wider extended family and is common in genealogical, social, and legal contexts. Cognate terms exist in other languages, such as sobrina in Spanish and nipote in Italian, while English uses niece.

Etymology: Nièce derives from Old French niece, from Latin neptis, a term that historically meant granddaughter and, in some uses, niece. Through the development of the Romance languages, neptis came to denote the child of a sibling relative, and the French form evolved into nièce. The accent mark reflects French orthography.

Usage and context: A niece is typically the daughter of one’s brother or sister and is treated as a member of the extended family. Legal rights attached to nieces—such as inheritance, guardianship, or support—vary by country and by individual circumstances, including adoption and testamentary arrangements. In everyday language, the term remains neutral and descriptive rather than prescriptive.