What is the Difference Between Niece and Nephew?

The main difference between a niece and a nephew is their gender. A niece is a female child, while a nephew is a male child. Both terms refer to the children of one's siblings. The relationship between an aunt or uncle and a niece or nephew is an example of second-degree relatives, meaning that their coefficient of relationship is 25%. Some other terms related to nieces and nephews include:

• Grandniece/nephew: The granddaughter or grandson of one's sibling.
• Half-niece/nephew: The child of one's half-sibling, related by 12.5%.
• Stepniece/nephew: The stepdaughter or stepson of one's sibling.
• Niece-in-law/nephew-in-law: The spouse of one's niece or nephew.

In some cultures and families, it is common to call the child of one's cousin a "niece" or "nephew". The gender-neutral term "nibling" has been used in place of the common terms, especially in specialist literature.

Comparative Table: Niece vs Nephew

The main difference between a niece and a nephew is the gender of the child. Here is a table summarizing the differences:

Both nieces and nephews are considered second-degree relatives, with a coefficient of relationship of 25%. In some cultures and families, it is common to call the child of one's cousin a "niece" or "nephew".