View source for Serbo-Croatian kinship

{{refimprove|date=June 2025}}
{{cleanup lang|iso=sh|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
The [[Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian]] standard languages ([[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] and [[Montenegrin language|Montenegrin]]) have one of the more elaborate '''[[kinship terminology|kinship]]''' ({{lang|sh|srodstvo}}) systems among European languages. Terminology may differ from place to place. Most words are common to other [[Slavic languages]], though some derive from [[Turkish languages|Turkish]]. The standardized languages may recognize slightly different pronunciations or dialectical forms; all terms are considered standard in all language standards, unless otherwise marked: <sup>[S]</sup> (Serbian), <sup>[C]</sup> (Croatian), <sup>[B]</sup> (Bosnian) and <sup>[M]</sup> (Montenegrin) below.

There are four main types of kinship in the family: biological {{a.k.a.}} blood kinship, kinship by law ([[in-laws]]), spiritual kinship (such as [[godparent]]s), and legal kinship through adoption and remarriage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obitelj, Brak, Srodstvo {{!}} PDF |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/15858091/Obitelj-brak-srodstvo |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=Scribd |language=en}}</ref> As is common in many rural family structures, three generations of a family will live together in a home in what anthropologists call a [[joint family]] structure, where parents, their son(s), and grandchildren would cohabit in a family home.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Schweizer |first1=Thomas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSIAkgk-qasC&q=Kinship,+networks,+and+exchange |title=Kinship, Networks, and Exchange |last2=White |first2=Douglas |last3=White |first3=Douglas R. |last4=Granovetter |first4=Mark |date=13 June 1998 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-59021-1 |language=en}}</ref>

==Direct descendance and ancestry==

Words for relations up to five generations removed—great-great-grandparents and great-great-grandchildren—are in common use. The fourth-generation terms are also used as generics for ancestors and descendants. There is no distinction between the maternal and paternal line. 

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Latin !! Cyrillic !! Relation
|-
| '''čukununuka'''<br>'''šukununuka''' <sup>[C]</sup> || '''чукунунука'''<br>'''шукунунука''' <sup>[C]</sup>|| great-great-granddaughter
|-
| '''čukununuk'''<br>'''šukununuk''' <sup>[C]</sup> || '''чукунунук'''<br>'''шукунунук''' <sup>[C]</sup> ||great-great-grandson
|-
| '''praunuka''' || '''праунука''' || great-granddaughter, descendant
|-
| '''praunuk''' || '''праунук''' || great-grandson, descendant
|-
| '''unuka''' || '''унука''' || granddaughter
|-
|  '''unuk''' || '''унук''' || grandson
|-
|  '''kćer'''<br> '''kćerka'''<br>'''ćerka'''<br>'''kći''' || '''кћер'''<br>'''кћерка'''<br>'''ћерка'''<br>'''кћи''' || daughter
|-
| '''sin''' || '''син''' || son
|-
| '''majka'''<br>'''mater'''<br>'''mati''' || '''мајка'''<br>'''матер'''<br>'''мати''' || mother
|-
| '''mama'''<br>'''keva''' || '''мама'''<br>'''кева''' || mom
|-
| '''otac''' || '''отац''' || father
|-
| '''babo''' <sup>[B]</sup><br>'''ćaća''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''ćale''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''tajo''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''tata''' || '''бабо''' <sup>[B]</sup><br>'''ћаћа''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''ћале''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''тајо''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''тата''' || dad
|- -->
| '''baba'''<br>'''baka'''<br>'''nana''' <sup>[B]</sup><br>'''nona''' || '''баба'''<br>'''бака'''<br>'''нана''' <sup>[B]</sup><br>'''нона'''||  grandmother
|-
| '''ded(a)'''<br>'''deka''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''did(a)''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''dido'''<br>'''djed'''<br>'''đed''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''nono''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''dedo''' <sup>[B]</sup> || '''дед(a)'''<br>'''дека''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''дид(a)''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''дидо'''<br>'''дјед'''<br>'''ђед''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''ноно''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''дедо''' <sup>[B]</sup> || grandfather
|-
| '''prababa'''<br>'''prabaka''' || '''прабаба'''<br>'''прабака''' || great-grandmother, ancestor
|-
| '''praded(a)'''<br>'''pradid(a)''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''pradido'''<br>'''pradjed'''<br>'''prađed''' <sup>[M]</sup> || '''прадед(a)'''<br>'''прадид(a)''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''прадидо'''<br>'''прадјед'''<br>'''прађед''' <sup>[M]</sup> || great-grandfather, ancestor
|-
| '''čukunbaba'''<br>'''šukunbaka''' <sup>[C]</sup> || '''чукунбаба'''<br>'''шукунбака''' <sup>[C]</sup> || great-great-grandmother
|-
| '''čukunded(a)'''<br>'''čukundjed'''<br>'''čukunđed''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''šukundid(a)''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''šukundjed''' <sup>[C]</sup> || '''чукундед(a)'''<br>'''чукундјед'''<br>'''чукунђед''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''шукундид(a)''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''шукундјед''' <sup>[C]</sup> || great-great-grandfather<ref>*{{in lang|en}}Svetozar Brkić, Živojin Simić (1993) ''English–Serbian and Serbian–English dictionary''
</ref>
|-
| '''predakinja''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''pretkinja''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''pređa''' <sup>[M]</sup> || '''предакиња''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''преткиња''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''пређа''' <sup>[M]</sup>|| female ancestor
|-
| '''predak''' || '''предак''' || male ancestor
|}

==Own generation==

[[Diminutive]] forms of siblings are used for cousins.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Latin !! Cyrillic !! English translation
|-
| '''brat''' || '''брат''' || brother
|-
| '''sestra''' || '''сестра''' || sister
|-
| '''bratić''' <sup>[C]</sup> 
| '''братић''' <sup>[C]</sup>
| male first cousin
|-
| '''sestrična''' <sup>[C]</sup> 
| '''сестрична''' <sup>[C]</sup>
| female first cousin
|-
| '''brat od strica'''<br>'''stričević'''<br>'''amidžić''' || '''брат од стрица'''<br>'''стричевић'''<br>'''амиџић''' || male cousin (always first or second), son of father's brother (or male first cousin)
|-
| '''brat od daja'''<br>'''brat od ujaka'''<br>'''daidžić'''<br>'''ujčević''' || '''брат од даја'''<br>'''брат од ујака'''<br>'''даиџић'''<br>'''ујчевић''' || male cousin (always first or second), son of mother's brother (or male first cousin)
|-
| '''brat od hale'''<br>'''brat od tetke'''<br>'''tetić'''<br>'''tetkić'''<br>'''tetišnji''' || '''брат од хале'''<br>'''брат од тетке'''<br>'''тетић'''<br>'''теткић'''<br>'''тетишњи''' || male cousin (always first or second), son of mother's or father's sister (or female first cousin)
|-
| '''sestra od strica'''<br>'''stričevka'''<br>'''admidžišnja''' || '''сестра од стрица'''<br>'''стричевићка'''<br>'''амиџишња''' || female cousin (always first or second), daughter of father's brother (or male first cousin)
|-
| '''sestra od daja'''<br>'''sestra od ujaka'''<br>'''ujčevka'''<br>'''daidžišnja''' || '''сестра од даја'''<br>'''сестра од ујака'''<br>'''даиџишња'''<br>'''ујчевићка''' || female cousin (always first or second), daughter of mother's brother (or male first cousin)
|-
| '''sestra od hale'''<br>'''sestra od tetke'''<br>'''tetišnja''' || '''сестра од хале'''<br>'''сестра од тетке'''<br>'''тетишња''' || female cousin (always first or second), daughter of mother's or father's sister (or female first cousin)
|-
| '''rođak''' || '''рођак''' || male cousin, relative
|-
| '''rođaka''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''rođakinja'''<br>'''rodica''' <sup>[C]</sup> || '''рођака''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''рођакиња'''<br>'''родица''' <sup>[C]</sup> || female cousin, relative
|}

==Indirect ancestry, descendants and legal relations==

There are separate terms for maternal and paternal uncles, but not for aunts. In addition, spouses of uncles and aunts have their own terms.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Latin !! Cyrillic !! Relation
|-
| '''amidža'''<br>'''adžo'''<br>'''stric'''<br>'''čiča'''<br>'''čika'''<br>'''ćić''' || '''амиџа'''<br>'''аџо'''<br>'''стриц'''<br>'''чича'''<br>'''чика'''<br>'''ћић''' || paternal uncle
|-
| '''amidžinica'''<br>'''adžinica'''<br>'''strina''' || '''амиџиница'''<br>'''аџиница'''<br>'''стрина'''|| paternal uncle's wife
|-
| '''daidža''' / '''dajdža'''<br>'''dajo'''<br>'''ujak''' || '''даиџа''' / '''дајџа'''<br>'''дајо'''<br> '''ујак''' || maternal uncle
|-
| '''daidžinica''' / '''dajdžinica'''<br>'''dajnica'''<br>'''ujna''' || '''даиџиница''' / '''дајџиница'''<br>'''дајница'''<br>'''ујна''' ||  maternal uncle's wife; i.e. maternal aunt through marriage
|-
| '''hala'''<br> '''tetka''' || '''хала'''<br>'''тетка''' ||  aunt (only mother's or father's sister or cousin)
|-
| '''teča''' <sup>[S]</sup><br>'''tetak''' ||  '''теча''' <sup>[S]</sup><br> '''тетак'''|| aunt's husband (where aunt defined as "tetka")
|-
| '''bratanac''' || '''братанац''' || fraternal nephew (for women<sup>[S]</sup>, for men and women<sup>[C]</sup>)
|-
| '''bratanić'''<br>'''bratić'''|| '''братанић'''<br>'''братић''' || fraternal nephew (for men and women)
|-
| '''sinovac''' || '''синовац''' || fraternal nephew (for men<sup>[S]</sup>)
|-
| '''bratanica'''<br>'''brataničina'''<br>'''bratičina'''  || '''братаница'''<br>'''братаничина'''<br>'''братичина''' || fraternal niece
|-
| '''nećak''' || '''нећак''' || nephew
|-
| '''nećaka'''<br>'''nećakinja''' || '''нећака'''<br>'''нећакиња''' || niece
|-
| '''sestrić''' || '''сестрић''' || sororal nephew
|-
| '''sestričina''' || '''сестричина''' || sororal niece
|}

==In-laws==
There are separate terms for a man's and a woman's parents-in-law. However, the same terms are commonly used for siblings-in-law and children-in-law. There are separate terms for co-siblings-in-law.{{fix|text=what about co-grandparent-in-law?}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Latin !! Cyrillic || Relation || English translation
|-
| '''svekar''' || '''свекар''' || husband's father|| [[father-in-law]]
|-
| '''svekrva''' || '''свекрва''' || husband's mother || [[mother-in-law]]
|-
| '''punac''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''tast'''<sup>[S]</sup> ||'''пунац''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''таст''' <sup>[S]</sup> || wife's father || father-in-law
|-
| '''punica''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''tašta'''<sup>[S]</sup> ||'''пуница''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''ташта''' <sup>[S]</sup> || wife's mother || mother-in-law
|-
| '''zet''' || '''зет''' || daughter's or sister's husband || [[Affinity (law)|son-in-law]] or [[brother-in-law]]
|-
| '''nev(j)esta'''<br>'''odiva''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''snaha'''<br>'''snaja''' <sup>[C, S]</sup><br>'''snaša''' || '''нев(ј)еста'''<br>'''одива''' <sup>[M]</sup><br>'''снаха'''<br>'''снаjа''' <sup>[C, S]</sup><br>'''снаша''' || son's or brother's wife || [[Affinity (law)|daughter-in-law]] or [[sister-in-law]]
|-
| '''šura(k)'''<br>'''šurjak'''<sup>[C]</sup><br>'''šogor'''<sup>[C]</sup> || '''шура(к)'''<br>'''шурjак''' <sup>[C]</sup><br>'''шогор''' <sup>[C]</sup> || wife's brother || brother-in-law
|-
| '''šurjakinja'''<sup>[C]</sup><br>'''šurnjaja'''<br>'''šurnaja''' || '''шурјакиња'''<sup>[C]</sup><br>'''шурњаја'''<br>'''шурнаја''' ||  wife's brother's wife || [[sister-in-law]]
|-
| '''svastika'''<br>'''šogorica''' <sup>[C]</sup> || '''свастика''' <br>'''шогорица''' <sup>[C]</sup>|| wife's sister || sister-in-law
|-
| '''svastić''' || '''свастић''' || wife's sister's son || nephew-in-law
|-
| '''svastičina''' || '''свастичина''' || wife's sister's daughter || niece-in-law
|-
| '''badženjak'''<br>'''badžo'''<br>'''d(j)ever'''<br>'''đever''' <sup>[M]</sup> || '''баџењак'''<br>'''баџо''' <br>'''д(j)евер'''<br>'''ђевер''' <sup>[M]</sup> || husband's brother || brother-in-law
|-
| '''jetrva''' || '''јетрва''' || husband's brother's wife || [[:wiktionary:co-sister-in-law|co-sister-in-law]]
|-
| '''zaova''' || '''заова''' || husband's sister || sister-in-law
|-
| '''zaovac''' || '''заовац''' || husband's sister's husband || [[:wiktionary:co-brother-in-law|co-brother-in-law]]
|-
| '''pašanac'''<br>'''pašenog'''<br>'''badžo''' || '''пашанац'''<br>'''пашеног'''<br>'''баџо''' || wife's sister's husband || [[:wiktionary:co-brother-in-law|co-brother-in-law]]
|-
| '''prija''' || '''прија''' || child's spouse's mother || [[:wiktionary:co-mother-in-law|co-mother-in-law]]
|-
| '''prijatelj'''<br>'''prika''' || '''пријатељ'''<br>прика || child's spouse's father || [[:wiktionary:co-father-in-law|co-father-in-law]]; N.B. the exactly same word means "friend" (general word)
|}

==Step-relatives==
There are spouses of ancestors that are not blood relatives and their spouse's descendants, second spouse of father's or mother's siblings (paternal or maternal step-aunts and step-uncles) and their children.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Latin !! Cyrillic || Relation
|-
| '''očuh''' || '''очух''' || [[Stepfamily|stepfather]]
|-
| '''maćeha''' || '''маћеха''' ||  [[Stepfamily|stepmother]]
|-
| '''pastorak''' || '''пасторак''' || [[Stepfamily|stepson]]
|-
| '''pastorka'''<br>'''pastorkinja''' || '''пасторка'''<br>'''пасторкиња''' || [[Stepfamily|stepdaughter]]
|-
| '''polubrat''' || '''полубрат''' || [[Sibling|half-brother]] (through only one parent)
|-
| – '''brat po ocu''' || '''брат по оцу''' || [[Sibling|half-brother]] (sharing same father, different mothers)
|-
| – '''brat po majci''' || '''брат по мајци''' || [[Sibling|half-brother]] (sharing same mother, different fathers)
|-
| '''polusestra''' || '''полусестра''' || [[Sibling|half-sister]] (through only one parent)
|-
| – '''sestra po ocu''' || '''сестра по оцу''' || [[Sibling|half-sister]] (sharing same father, different mothers)
|-
| – '''sestra po majci''' || '''сестра по мајци''' || [[Sibling|half-sister]] (sharing same mother, different fathers)
|}

==Foster-relatives==
Foster relations are important and have dedicated terms.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Latin !! Cyrillic || Relation
|-
| '''usvojenik''' || '''усвојеник''' || adopted son
|-
| '''usvojenica''' || '''усвојеница''' || adopted daughter
|-
| '''poočim''' ||  '''поочим''' || foster-father
|-
| '''pomajka''' ||  '''помајка''' ||  foster-mother
|-
|  '''posinak'''<br> '''usinjenik''' <sup>[S]</sup> || '''посинак'''<br> '''усињеник''' <sup>[S]</sup> || foster-son
|-
| '''po(k)ćerka''' || '''по(к)ћерка''' || foster-daughter
|}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

* {{cite news |last1=Mrđa |first1=Željka |title=SURDEPAČ, PARĐPAČ, OŽMIKUR Ovo su srpske reči, a da li znate šta ZNAČE? |url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/drustvo/surdepac-pardjpac-ozmikur-ovo-su-srpske-reci-a-da-li-znate-sta-znace/dz1gf8s |access-date=29 June 2022 |work=Blic |date=2 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005151747/https://www.blic.rs/vesti/drustvo/surdepac-pardjpac-ozmikur-ovo-su-srpske-reci-a-da-li-znate-sta-znace/dz1gf8s |archive-date=5 October 2017}}
* {{cite journal|editor=Никола Пантелић|journal=Гласник Етнографског музеја у Београду књ. 50|year=1986|author=Мирко Бaрјaктaровић|title=О сродничким називима код нас и њиховом делимичном нестајању|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EeGmCQAAQBAJ|publisher=Etnografski muzej u Beogradu|id=GGKEY:1Y5P116PDB9|pages=159–171}}
{{Serbia topics}}
{{Croatia topics}}
{{Bosnia and Herzegovina topics}}
{{Montenegro topics}}
[[Category:Serbo-Croatian]]
[[Category:Culture of Serbia|Kinship]]
[[Category:Serbian language|Kinship]]
[[Category:Culture of Croatia|Kinship]]
[[Category:Croatian language|Kinship]]
[[Category:Kinship terminology]]
[[Category:Culture of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Montenegrin language]]
[[Category:Bosniak culture]]
[[Category:Bosnian language]]
[[Category:Culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Serbian genealogy]]