Eskimo Brothers: What It Means to Be One & the Must-Know Details

Dating is a strange world. If you’re a guy and you accidentally *or on purpose* dated the same person as your friend, well, now you’re eskimo brothers.

Now, we can completely understand if the very title of this feature leaves you very confused. But you’re reading it, so that must mean you’re very keen to find out what the meaning of eskimo brothers is.

No, it has nothing to do with people who live in igloos, but it does have a lot to do with the modern dating world. Perhaps you’re eskimo brothers with one of your friends without even realizing it!

The problem with the modern dating world is that it’s wide, yet it’s also pretty small too. That might sound like an impossible contradition, but think about it.

How many times do you bump into the same people when you’re out in a club or generally out having fun? Probably a few times. The “regular” dating pool, i.e. those who aren’t online, is pretty small. That’s because the dating world has so many different niches and ways these days.

The chances of having hooked up with the same person as one of your friends aren’t that slim when you think about it that way. [Read: Why is sex important in a relationship]

What are eskimo brothers?

To define it, you’re eskimo brothers if you’re a guy and you have slept with the same person as your male friend.

Again, it might have been done without you realizing he had already been with this person, or you might have purposely gone after them because you liked them. Or maybe for another reason. Either way, the point is that you both have history with this person now and that makes you eskimo brothers.

Where did the term come from? There are different variations, from the term simply being popularized from TV shows, to Mexican origins. However, the idea came from two men having shared an “igloo”. Yes, we know, it’s not the most flattering of terms, but if you want to know what it actually means, that’s where the term originated from.

The good news is that you probably didn’t share the woman *igloo* at the same time, so there’s always that! [Read: Sleeping together but not dating – A really good idea or a bad one?]

Everything you need to know about being eskimo brothers

It’s bound to happen at some point, right? Well, maybe it’s not the best thing to do, sleeping with the same person, but it can happen accidentally very easily.

But hey, it’s life… and stuff happens. But here are some things you need to know about eskimo brothers, or maybe you’re just interested. [Read: 15 open relationship rules for a better love life]

1. You may not know that you’re already one

We don’t live in the 19th century when women were wearing chastity belts. Nowadays, it’s perfectly normal to have casual sex with multiple people. If that’s what someone wants to do, regardless of their gender, then they’re free to do it as long as they’re being safe.

The woman you slept with may have already slept with a friend of yours, and you don’t even know it.

See, and you’re living life normally even though that probably happened to you. Does it really matter to you? Maybe, maybe not, but think about the grand scheme of things – it’s nothing really, is it? [Read: How to have sex with your friend and make sure things don’t get weird]

2. There is no special relatonship between eskimo brothers

Just because you and your friend hooked up with the same person doesn’t mean you two have to carry on that tradition. You don’t have to become best friends or share stories *please don’t*. This doesn’t mean anything.

It only means that you slept with the same person. There isn’t some sort of tradition you need to uphold. [Read: 7 signs a girl gives if she wants to sleep with you]

3. You can’t be jealous

This woman you slept with is not in a relationship with you, and you don’t have some sort of ownership – this isn’t a car dealership.

So, whoever she hooks up with after you, you can’t be jealous. If you are, maybe you should evaluate your feelings toward her. Are you jealous because of your ego, or do you actually have feelings for her? [Read: How to not be jealous – An easy guide for the overly envious]

4. There’s no need to go into details

If you and this guy know that you both slept with the same girl, that’s all that really needs to be said. You don’t need to go for a coffee and discuss how good she was in bed.

First of all, grow up. And second of all, what’s going to come out of that? Nothing. This will not create some friendship between you two. Nobody wants to know what the person they slept with did to someone else.

5. In fact, you don’t even need to tell him

If you both know, cool, just keep that knowledge to yourselves and move on.

But if only you know that both of you slept with the same girl, there is no need to tell him. She obviously didn’t tell him and nothing good will come out of you telling him. So, just leave that out of the conversation. [Read: How to tell if your girlfriend has slept with someone else]

6. Don’t see this as competition

So many guys become competitive once they see the girl they slept with, with someone else. This isn’t now some opening for you to try to steal her away.

If she wanted you, she would have continued to sleep with you, but obviously, that didn’t happen. So, get over yourself.

7. Don’t change your opinion of this guy

This is your ego talking. If you think this guy is an idiot or a douchebag simply because he’s sleeping with the girl you were sleeping with, get over yourself.

He’s probably not what you think, in fact, maybe you should take it easy on the guy. There aren’t any rules saying he can’t pursue her if she’s single. He’s just doing what you did. [Read: The 30 unspoken guy code rules all men need to know and follow]

8. Don’t pursue her if she’s with someone else

We know you slept with her, congratulations. Now, she’s sleeping with someone else. Yes, it’s not you. And if you know she’s with someone else, don’t be that guy to send her booty calls and stir things up for her. It’s not worth it.

Plus, if she ever breaks up with him, you’ll lower your chances of being able to sleep with her again. No one wants to sleep with an asshole. [Read: The dreaded after-sex call etiquette – The dos and don’ts]

9. Women can be eskimo sisters

Fun fact! You guys aren’t the only ones to sleep with the same person. It’s entirely possible for two women to sleep with the same guy over time. So, you fellas aren’t the only one to share the same igloo with someone else.

10. Follow these rules

Listen, we know these “codes of conduct” between eskimo brothers are annoying but if everyone follows them, then you’ll lessen the chance of something difficult happening to you. We mean, just don’t be an asshole.

Sure, you slept with her and some other guy has too, and that’s it. Don’t take this as a hit to your ego, this is just life. [Read: Rules of dating – The unspoken guidelines that create the best dates]

Should being eskimo brothers be a problem at all?

Well, that’s up to you to decide. If it bothers you, you have to ask yourself why. Remember that anyone you have slept with in the past doesn’t belong to you. If they sleep with someone you know, that’s not really your problem, is it?

However, it could be a problem if you’re with someone, it turns into something serious, and then you find out that they slept with your best friend in the past. That makes you eskimo brothers.

Again, it may not bother you at all. But, it might also really bother you over time and drive a wedge between you. It’s something you only know for yourself but let’s be honest, you’re probably eskimo brothers with someone in your life!

[Read: The 60 bromandments – Bro code rules every guy should live by]

Being eskimo brothers is going to happen at some point in time After all, people have sex and when they have sex, they go with what feels good. But if you follow the etiquette of being an eskimo brother, you’ll have no problems.