noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
sĭbʹ-lĭng
/ˈsɪb.lɪŋ/
/ˈsɪb.lin/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪblɪŋ
CMU ARPABET:S IH1 B L IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A person who shares a parent; one's brother or sister who one shares a parent with.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
None of my siblings are married yet.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A node in a data structure that shares its parent with another node.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
First use appears c. 1903, a modern revival of Old English sibling (“relative, a relation, kinsman”), equivalent to sib + -ling. Compare Middle English siblynges pl, sib, sibbe (“relative; kinsman”), German Sippe. The term apparently meant merely kin or relative until the 20th century when it was applied in a way that aided the study of genetics, which led to its specialized use. For example, the OED has a citation in 1902 in which sibling must be defined for those who do not know the intended meaning.
Across languages
Translations
169 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
شَقِيق
(šaqīq)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Arabic:
شَقِيقَة
(šaqīqa)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic:
ܐܲܚ̈ܘܵܬ݂ܹܐ
(aḥwāṯē)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Azerbaijani:
bacı-qardaş
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
West Coast Bajau:
adi'
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Balinese:
adi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Banjarese:
dangsanak
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Karo Batak:
agi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Bengali:
সহোদর
(śohōdor)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Central Bikol:
tugang
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Bulgarian:
брат
(brat)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Bulgarian:
сестра
(sestra)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Burmese:
မောင်နှမ
(maunghna.ma.)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Catalan:
germà
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Catalan:
germana
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Cherokee:
ᎤᏙ
(udo)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Chickasaw:
ittibaapishi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Chickasaw:
tibaapishi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Chinese:
兄弟姊妹
(zh-min-nan)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Chinese Mandarin:
兄弟姐妹
(xiōngdì jiěmèi)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Chinese Mandarin:
兄弟
(xiōngdì)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Chinese Mandarin:
姐妹
(jiěmèi)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Chinese Mandarin:
同胞
(tóngbāo)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Czech:
sourozenec
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Danish:
bror
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Danish:
søster
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Danish:
søskende
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Dutch:
brus
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Dutch:
sibling
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Esperanto:
gefrato
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Esperanto:
gefratoj
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Estonian:
õve
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ewe:
nɔvi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ewe:
tsɛ
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Faroese:
systkin
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Fijian:
taci
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Finnish:
sisarus
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
French:
frère et sœur
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
French:
adelphe
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
French:
fratrie
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
French:
germain
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
French:
sibling
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
French:
frères et sœurs
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
French:
frœur
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Galician:
irmán
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Galician:
irmá
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Georgian:
დედმამიშვილი
(dedmamišvili)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Georgian:
და-ძმა
(da-ʒma)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
German:
Geschwisterchen
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
German:
Geschwisterkind
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
German:
Bruder
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
German:
Schwester
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
German:
Geschwister
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Greek:
αδέλφι
(adélfi)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Greenlandic:
qatanngut
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Hebrew:
אַחַאי
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Higaonon:
sulud
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Hindi:
सहोदर
(sahodar)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Hungarian:
testvér
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Icelandic:
systkin
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ido:
frato
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ilocano:
kabsat
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ilocano:
kabagis
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ilocano:
kaka
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ilocano:
ading
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Indonesian:
kakak
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Indonesian:
adik
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Indonesian:
saudara
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Iranun:
ari
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Iranun:
dadi'
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Irish:
siblín
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Irish:
deartháireacha agus/nó deirfiúracha
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Isnag:
waxi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Italian:
fratello
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Italian:
sorella
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Italian:
parente
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Italian:
congiunto
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Italian:
consanguineo
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Italian:
germano
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Japanese:
兄弟兄弟姉妹
(kyōdai)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Japanese:
同胞
(dōhō)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Japanese:
同胞
(harakara)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Javanese:
sadulur
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Javanese:
sadhèrèk
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Javanese:
adhi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Javanese:
rayi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Javanese:
ari
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Javanese:
kangmas
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Kabuverdianu:
armun
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Kabuverdianu:
irmon
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Kapampangan:
kapatad
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Kazakh:
бауыр
(bauyr)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Kongo:
lêki
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Kongo:
yaya
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Korean:
형제
(hyeongje)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Korean:
형제자매
(hyeongjejamae)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Northern Kurdish:
xwişkûbira
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Northern Kurdish:
xwişk û bira
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Laboya:
ali
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Laboya:
kaiya
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Lao:
ອ້າຽນ້ອຽ
(’āi nǭi)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Lao:
ອ້າຍນ້ອງ
(ʼāi nǭng)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Latin:
germanus
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Latin:
germana
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Latin:
frater
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Latin:
soror
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Latvian:
brālis
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Latvian:
māsa
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Lithuanian:
brolija
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Low German:
Bölkenkind
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Lushootseed:
sqa
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Lushootseed:
suq'waʔ
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Malay:
abang
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Malay:
kakak
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Malay:
adik
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Malay:
ابڠ
(older)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Malay:
کاکق
(older)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Malay:
اديق
(younger)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Malayalam:
സഹോദരർ
(sahōdaraṟ)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Minangkabau:
dunsanak
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Khiamniungan Naga:
thāthōng
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Navajo:
bił hajííjééʼ
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Navajo:
hakʼis
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Navajo:
halah
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Norwegian:
søsken
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Paiwan:
marekakakaka
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Pangasinan:
agik
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Pennsylvania German:
Gschwischder
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Persian:
همنیا
(ham-niâ)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Persian:
همشیره
(hamšire)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Pirahã:
’ahaigí–gíi
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Polish:
rodzeństwo
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Portuguese:
irmão
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Portuguese:
irmã
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Russian:
брат
(brat)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Russian:
сестра́
(sestrá)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Russian:
си́блинг
(síbling)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Russian:
сибс
(sibs)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Slovak:
súrodenec
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Slovene:
sorojenec
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Spanish:
hermano
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Spanish:
hermana
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Swahili:
ndugu
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Swedish:
syskon
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Tagalog:
kapatid
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Tagalog:
kaka
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Tatar:
кардәш
(qärdäş)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Telugu:
తోబుట్టువు
(tōbuṭṭuvu)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Thai:
พี่
(pîi)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Thai:
น้อง
(nɔ́ɔng)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Thai:
พี่น้อง
(pîi-nɔ́ɔng)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Tonga (Zambia):
munyoko
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Turkish:
kardeş
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ukrainian:
суро́дженець
(suródženecʹ)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Ukrainian:
родже́нство
(rodžénstvo)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Urdu:
سہودر
(sahodar)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Uyghur:
قېرىنداش
(qërindash)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Vietnamese:
anh chị em
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Volapük:
gem
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Volapük:
higem
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Volapük:
jigem
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Waray-Waray:
bug-to
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Welsh:
sibling
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Welsh:
brodyr a/neu chwiorydd
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Yiddish:
געשוויסטער
(geshvister)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Yoruba:
àbúrò
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Yoruba:
ẹ̀gbọ́n
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Zazaki:
bra (diq)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
Zazaki:
wa (diq)
— person who shares same parents — see also brother, sister
