What is the feminine gender of ‘nephew’?

Appeared in: OSSSC Nursing Officer-2021

Explanation

The term 'niece' is the correct feminine equivalent of the masculine noun 'nephew'.
A nephew is defined as the son of one's brother or sister.
A niece is defined as the daughter of one's brother or sister.

Option A: 'Aunt' is the feminine form of 'uncle', referring to the sister of one's parent.
Option B: 'Nun' refers to a woman in a religious order, with the masculine counterpart being 'monk' or 'friar'.
Option D: 'Lass' is an informal term for a young girl, with the masculine counterpart being 'lad'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Gender-specific nouns in English as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Using correct family relationship terms like 'nephew' and 'niece' is crucial for accurate documentation of a patient's family medical history and social support system.
Clear communication about family members helps in understanding genetic predispositions and identifying potential caregivers.
What if? If a patient states their 'nephew' has a history of heart disease, the nurse correctly identifies this as the son of the patient's sibling, which could be relevant for assessing familial risk. Confusing this with 'uncle' would lead to an incorrect assessment.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the question. It asks for the female equivalent of the word 'nephew'.
Define 'nephew' in your mind: the son of your brother or sister.
Now, think of the word for the daughter of your brother or sister. That word is 'niece'.
Examine the other options to confirm your choice. 'Aunt' is the female of 'uncle'. 'Nun' is the female of 'monk'. 'Lass' is the female of 'lad'.
Conclude that 'niece' is the only correct match for 'nephew'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full OSSSC Nursing Officer-2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.