- English translation
Marrying into a family brings you standing, and when the match is a good one, your in-laws become your own kin.
- Literal wording
Relation by marriage is standing, and if it proves sound, it becomes family-ness.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying holds that becoming related through marriage, not descent by blood, is itself a source of honor, worth, and social esteem. Joining another household through a wedding adds to a person's standing, so the alliance is valued beyond the couple themselves.
It adds a condition and a promise: not every marriage tie becomes family, but when the match proves sound, the in-laws stop being mere connections and become true kin. A good alliance can supply the loyalty, support, and belonging normally expected from one's own relatives.
- When it is used
Fits conversations about choosing a spouse or welcoming new in-laws, stressing that a well-chosen marriage connection can supply support and belonging, even for someone with few relatives. It speaks of in-laws, not ancestry, and promises kinship only when the match proves sound.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Marrying into a family brings you standing, and when the match is a good one, your in-laws become your own kin.