Who's Your Father-in-Law? Your Mother-in-Law?

If you are a man, your father-in-law is addressed as tezvara. As you might expect, if you've been following this series on Shona family relations, tezvara also refers to any male member of the bride's direct family.

If you are a woman, your father-in-law is addressed as tezvara, however your husband's brothers are addressed as muramu or baba mukuru (if older than your husband).

If you are a man, your mother-in-law is addressed as vambuya. (See Who's Your Grandmother?) You would also address the wives of your wife's brothers by this title.

If you are a woman, your mother-in-law is addressed as vamwene. The wives of your husband's brothers are also addressed as vamwene.

So with just one spouse, you can have numerous fathers-in-law, vatezvara, and numerous mothers-in-law, vamwene. Settle back and enjoy your growing family.