schwager

Schwager is a German noun meaning brother-in-law. It refers to the male spouse of one's sibling or to the brother of one's spouse. The feminine form is Schwägerin; the plural forms are Schwäger (masculine) and Schwägerinnen (feminine).

Schwager is a native German word with cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch zwager and Swedish svåger. The term dates from Old High German and has been used in German-speaking communities since the Middle Ages.

As a surname, Schwager occurs in German-speaking countries and among diaspora communities. Surnames based on kinship terms often arose to denote familial relationships or lineage; modern bearers of the name may have ancestors who were a Schwager to someone notable or who were connected to a family through marriage.

Today, the term is used primarily in everyday language to describe family relationships; in formal contexts it is common to specify the relation, e.g., mein Schwager (my brother-in-law). The related term Schwägerin is used for a sister-in-law.