A1noun2K

Cousin

UK /["/ˈkʌzn/"]/US /["/ˈkʌzn/"]/

Definition

a child of your aunt or uncle

In simple words: The child of your aunt or uncle.

Examples

  • My cousin and I used to play together every summer.
  • She invited her cousin to the family reunion.
  • Did you know that he is my second cousin?
  • My cousin loves to read books about science.
  • I have a cousin who lives in another country.

Usage notes

Use 'cousin' when referring to family members who share grandparents but not parents. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. In more formal discussions about family, you might specify 'first cousin' or 'second cousin'.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'co-' as together and 'sin' as sibling — cousins are family members that are 'together' but not siblings.

Collocations

  • first
  • second
  • distant
  • cousin once, twice, etc. removed
  • first
  • second
  • distant
  • cousin once, twice, etc. removed

Synonyms

  • relative
  • kin
  • family member

Antonyms

  • stranger
  • foreigner
  • non-relative

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'nephew' or 'niece', which refer to siblings' children.
  • Using 'cousins' to refer to unrelated friends.
  • Misunderstanding the family tree relation when discussing blended families.