The word "sibling".

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Something someone said on a another forum.

It's probably just me, but "sibling" is a word I never became friends with. Not only don't I use it, but I've never heard anyone else use it in normal conversation. If someone said, "My mother's siblings are coming to visit" I wouldn't have a clue for several moments what you were talking about.

No, it's not you. 'Brother(s) and sister(s)' is preferred to 'siblings' in ordinary speech.

"My sibling" would not be a good substitute for "my brother" or "my sister", and neither would "my siblings" be as descriptive or informative as "my brothers" or "my sisters". I have never used the word "siblings" in relation to my brothers -- I have no sister or sisters -- but I can imagine someone saying "All my siblings are coming to the picnic" if she or he has a mix of brothers and sisters.

note: A friend of mine occasionally refers to "all the (FamilyName) siblings", and I have always understood she includes herself there.

I find it easier to just say siblings than it is to say brothers and sisters. I find it easier to say handicap than I find it to say disability. The less syllables, the easier for me.

I only have one brother, so saying "brother" isn't a problem for me. But if I don't know the gender of, say, a baby animal that's in a litter, saying "brother or sister" all the time can be annoying. "Aww look, that puppy is playing with his or her brother or sister". That just feels weird.

It's a word that has always reminded me of friendly, human-sized aliens, so when I hear it, I think of someone with a pet alien that they're proud of and want to show everyone.

I think I've only asked/been asked about "brothers and sisters", not "siblings".

The word "nibling" means "niece or nephew", and that's a word I've never seen or heard anyone use. That one reminds me of a little sleeping puppy, and I think it should be used more because it could make it easier than always saying "niece and nephew".

I hate it. It sounds like psychobabble-as in "sibling rivalry."

I like the word sibling. It's far easier to use sibling(s) when there are either both boy(s) and girl(s), or if the gender is unknown than to keep saying 'brothers or sisters'. But as others have pointed out already, I wouldn't say 'sibling' instead of brother/sister when speaking of one person, same as I wouldn't say 'my parent's sibling' but 'aunt' or 'uncle'.

I don't mind the word "sibling", but I feel like it's one of those words that's more appropriate when it's written rather than said.