Cousin in different languages

Cousin in Different Languages

Discover 'Cousin' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'cousin' is a small but powerful term that connects us to our extended family and cultural background. It signifies a special bond of shared ancestry, often celebrated in various cultural traditions and rituals. From a linguistic perspective, the translation of 'cousin' in different languages can reveal fascinating insights into cultural norms and family structures.

For instance, in Spanish, 'cousin' is 'primo/a', while in French, it's 'cousin/cousine'. In some languages, such as Arabic, the translation of 'cousin' can vary depending on whether the cousin is from the mother's or father's side of the family. In Urdu, a paternal cousin is 'ammi ka bhai/bhen' and a maternal cousin is 'phuphi/phupha ka bhai/bhen'. These distinctions reflect the importance of lineage and family ties in different cultures.

Exploring the translations of 'cousin' in various languages can be a fun and enlightening journey, opening up a world of cultural discovery and appreciation.

Cousin

Cousin in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansneef
The Afrikaans word "neef" originally meant "sister's son" and is related to the Old English word "nefa", meaning "nephew".
Amharicያክስት
The word "ያክስት" in Amharic, besides its literal meaning of "cousin", can also refer to "relative" or "kin" in a broader sense.
Hausadan uwan
Hausa 'da'n ùwa (brother's son) and 'yar' ùwa (sister's daughter, brother's daughter, sister’s son)
Igbonwa nwanne nna
The Igbo word "nwa nwanne nna" is derived from the root "nna" meaning "father" and "nwanne" meaning "sibling", indicating a sibling of one's father. It can also refer to a first cousin on the father's side and sometimes to a second cousin on the mother's side.
Malagasympiray tam-po
The Malagasy word "mpiray tam-po" not only means "cousin," but also denotes a bond of close friendship.
Nyanja (Chichewa)msuweni
"Msuweni" in Nyanja can also refer to a friend or sibling of the same age.
Shonamuzukuru
The word "muzukuru" in Shona is a contraction of the phrase "mwana wazukuru," which means "child of an aunt or uncle."
Somaliinaadeer
The word 'inaadeer', meaning 'cousin' in Somali, also shares a root with 'nadiif',' meaning 'clean' and 'pure'.
Sesothomotsoala
"Motsoala", meaning "cousin" in Sesotho, is derived from the word "tsoala", meaning "to join" or "to connect".
Swahilibinamu
'Binamu' is a Swahili word that can also mean 'uncle' or 'aunt'.
Xhosaumzala
The word 'umzala' can also refer to a sibling of the opposite sex, and is often used as a term of endearment or respect for a close friend.
Yorubaegbon
The term "egbon" also signifies a sense of respect, especially from the younger to the older person.
Zuluumzala
'Umzala' also means 'person of the same age' or 'person of the same age group'
Bambarakanimɛ
Ewenɔvi
Kinyarwandamubyara
Lingalacousin
Lugandakizibwe
Sepedimotswala
Twi (Akan)nua

Cousin in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicولد عم
The Arabic word "ولد عم" (wuld 'amm) literally means "son of the maternal uncle".
Hebrewבת דודה
The Hebrew word 'bat duda' literally translates to 'daughter of an uncle,' reflecting the traditional matrilineal kinship system in the ancient Near East.
Pashtoد کاکا، ماما، ترور زوی یا لور
Arabicولد عم
The Arabic word "ولد عم" (wuld 'amm) literally means "son of the maternal uncle".

Cousin in Western European Languages

Albaniankushëriri
The word "kushëriri" is derived from the Proto-Albanian word *kʷi̥séri, which is of uncertain origin.
Basquelehengusua
Lehengusu may derive from Lehengusuak, which could also mean “younger cousin of our father,” which later transformed to lehengu, and with an ending -su, became lehengusu or lehenguusu to indicate “younger female cousin, male or female cousin, maternal uncle, etc.”
Catalancosí
The word "cosí" can also refer to a person who is like a cousin, but not related by blood.
Croatianrođak
"Rodak" also means "compatriot" or "fellow countryman" in the context of kinship by shared nationality and language.
Danishfætter
The Danish word "fætter" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*fadēr", meaning "father's brother".
Dutchneef
In Dutch, the word "neef" can also refer to a "nephew" or a "niece"
Englishcousin
The word 'cousin' is derived from the Latin word 'consobrinus', meaning 'child of a sister' or 'child of a brother'
Frenchcousin
In French, "cousin" can also refer to a fly, a male deer, or a male swan.
Frisianomkesizze
In Saterland Frisian the word 'omkesizze' can also mean 'niece'
Galiciancurmá
Galician "curmá" derives from Vulgar Latin "consobrinus" and is related to Spanish "cuñado" (brother-in-law).
Germancousin
The word for "cousin" in German is also the word for "uncle," "aunt," or "first degree relative" depending on context.
Icelandicfrændi
"Frændi" comes from Old Norse "frændi" meaning "relative" or "kinsman" and is related to the German word "Freund" meaning "friend".
Irishcol ceathrar
The Irish word 'col ceathrar' is a composite of 'col' (descendant) and 'ceathrar' (four), implying a person related within four generations, regardless of the line of descent.
Italiancugino
The Italian word 'cugino' is derived from the Latin word 'consobrinus', meaning 'child of a first cousin'.
Luxembourgishkoseng
The German word "Geschwisterkind" and the French "cousin" are related to "Koseng" and also mean "cousin".
Maltesekuġin
The Maltese word "kuġin" is derived from the Latin "consanguineus" (literally "of the same blood") and is related to English "kinship" and French "cousin."
Norwegianfetter
The Norwegian word "fetter" may also refer to a first cousin once removed.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)primo
The word "primo" can also mean "first cousin" or "excellent" in Portuguese.
Scots Gaelicco-ogha
The Gaelic word "co-ogha" can also mean "nephew" or "niece".
Spanishprima
Prima can also mean first class, first in a series, first quality, first-rate, first in time, and most important.
Swedishkusin
The Swedish word “kusin” can also refer to your second cousin or maternal or paternal aunt or uncle.
Welshcefnder
The word 'cefnder' is a mutation of 'cyfnither' or 'cenedl', both of which mean 'family'.

Cousin in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianстрыечны брат
The Belarusian word "стрыечны брат" also refers to male second cousins once or twice removed, as well as third and fourth cousins.
Bosnianrođak
Rodak can mean both maternal and paternal cousin, as the distinction between the two did not exist in the traditional Bosnian family structure.
Bulgarianбратовчед
The Bulgarian word "братовчед" (cousin) is cognate with the Russian word "брат" (brother), and originally meant "son of one's uncle".
Czechbratranec
The word "bratranec" in Czech comes from the Old Czech word "bratr", meaning "brother", and the suffix "-anec", which indicates a familial relationship.
Estoniannõbu
The word 'nõbu' is cognate with the Finnish word 'serkku', both ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *swesōr, meaning 'sister' or 'brother-in-law'.
Finnishserkku
"Serkku" originally meant "younger relative" and "sibling" in Old Finnish.
Hungarianunokatestvér
Originally meant "younger brother's brother", from the word "öcs" ("younger brother") and the suffix "-testvér" ("sibling").
Latvianbrālēns
The word "brālēns" is derived from the Proto-Baltic word *brālis, which also means "brother".
Lithuanianpusbrolis
The Lithuanian word pusbrolis "cousin" might have originated from the Proto-Indo-European word "*bhrāter-swel-os" meaning "brother's son".
Macedonianбратучед
The Macedonian word "братучед" is also used for "son of a sibling's cousin".
Polishkuzyn
The word "kuzyn" can also mean "second cousin" or "cousin-in-law" in Polish.
Romanianvăr
The word "văr" in Romanian can also refer to a male friend or a brother-in-law.
Russianдвоюродная сестра
Двоюродный sibling historically referred to any male relative but in the 19th century narrowed to the modern meaning of a cousin.
Serbianрођак
The word рођак in Serbian is a cognate with the Russian родич and the Sanskrit बन्धु (bandhu).
Slovakbratranec
In Slovak, the word 'bratranec' can also refer to a male cousin's wife.
Slovenianbratranec
The word “bratranec” derives from a Proto-Slavic word meaning “brother of a sibling” and is related to Russian “brát” (“brother”).
Ukrainianдвоюрідний брат
The Ukrainian word "двоюрідний брат" (cousin) derives from the Old Russian words "двоюродный" (second) and "брат" (brother).

Cousin in South Asian Languages

Bengaliকাজিন
Derived from French word 'cousin' meaning 'relative' or 'sister'
Gujaratiપિતરાઇ ભાઇ
Hindiचचेरा भाई
The word "चचेरा भाई" can also refer to a "second cousin" or "first cousin once removed".
Kannadaಸೋದರಸಂಬಂಧಿ
Malayalamകസിൻ
The word "കസിൻ" (cousin) in Malayalam also means "a close friend" or "a relative".
Marathiचुलतभाऊ
The word "चुलतभाऊ" is derived from the Sanskrit word "चुल", meaning "hearth". Hence, "चुलतभाऊ" originally referred to a cousin who shared the same hearth, and by extension, a close relative
Nepaliभान्जा
Nepali "भान्जा" is related to "bha" in "bhai" (brother) and is a term of affection for one's sister's son, while the term for one's maternal uncle is "मामा".
Punjabiਚਚੇਰਾ ਭਰਾ
Sinhala (Sinhalese)ous ාති සහෝදරයා
The term 'ous' (ou /ˈaʊ/) is the result of a shift from the Middle English term 'cosin' derived from the Anglo-Norman term 'cusin' meaning 'kinsman'
Tamilஉறவினர்
The Tamil word "உறவினர்" can also refer to "relatives" in general, not just "cousins".
Teluguకజిన్
"కజిన్" refers to a 'cousin', but it can also mean a 'brother-in-law' or 'sister-in-law'.
Urduکزن
The word "كزن" (cousin) is derived from the Arabic word "كازن" (companion), implying a close kinship.

Cousin in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)表姐
表姐 can also mean the female partner of one's uncle, or the wife of one's older brother.
Chinese (Traditional)表姐
'表姐' means 'female paternal first cousin', 'female maternal second cousin', 'female elder maternal second cousin'
Japaneseいとこ
"いとこ" can also refer to a niece or nephew, or a close friend.
Korean사촌
The Korean word 사촌 (sasun) derives from the Middle Chinese word 四寸 (sìcùn), which originally meant 'four inches', but was later extended to mean 'relatives within four degrees of kindred'.
Mongolianүеэл
The word 'үеэл' is also used to refer to a brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
Myanmar (Burmese)ဝမ်းကွဲ

Cousin in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiansepupu
Sepupu shares the same etymology as 'cousin,' derived from the Latin word 'consobrinus,' meaning 'child of a father's or mother's sibling'
Javaneseseduluré
The word "seduluré" in Javanese comes from the same root as the word "dulur", which means "sibling", indicating a close familial relationship.
Khmerបងប្អូនជីដូនមួយ
Laoພີ່ນ້ອງ
The word "ພີ່ນ້ອງ" can also be used to refer to a sibling of the opposite sex, or a close friend.
Malaysepupu
The word "sepupu" in Malay can also refer to a sibling's spouse or a sibling's sibling's spouse.
Thaiลูกพี่ลูกน้อง
"ลูกพี่ลูกน้อง" is a compound word consisting of the words "ลูกพี่" (older sibling) and "ลูกน้อง" (younger sibling), thus denoting a relationship that is both of an older and a younger sibling.
Vietnameseanh chị em họ
"Anh chị em họ" can also refer to cousins, siblings, nephews or nieces in Vietnamese.
Filipino (Tagalog)pinsan

Cousin in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniəmiuşağı
"Əmiuşağı" can also mean "nephew" or "niece"
Kazakhнемере ағасы
The Kazakh word "немере ағасы" has a literal translation as "a person like a cousin" and also can refer to a close male friend or a trusted confidant.
Kyrgyzкузен
The Kyrgyz word "Кузен" can also refer to a brother or sister of the same sex as the speaker.
Tajikҷияни
The word "ҷияни" (cousin) in Tajik can also refer to a niece or nephew.
Turkmendaýy
Uzbekamakivachcha
The word "amakivachcha" can also mean "uncle" or "aunt".
Uyghurنەۋرە تۇغقان

Cousin in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianhoa hānau
The Hawaiian word "hoa hānau" is derived from the words "hoa" (friend) and "hānau" (birth), and can refer to a close friend who is like family.
Maoriwhanaunga
The term "whanaunga" can also refer to a broader group of relatives or kin, beyond the immediate cousins.
Samoankasegi
Kasegi also means "brother or sister's son".
Tagalog (Filipino)pinsan
"Pinsan" is derived from the Spanish "primo/prima" and originally referred to godchildren.

Cousin in American Indigenous Languages

Aymarajila masi
Guaranitiora'y

Cousin in International Languages

Esperantokuzo
The alternate meaning of "kuzo" is "an acquaintance or relative by marriage."
Latincognata
Cognata in Latin can also mean 'related' or 'similar'.

Cousin in Others Languages

Greekξαδερφος ξαδερφη
The Greek word 'ξαδερφος/ξαδερφη' is derived from the Latin 'consobrinus' (literally 'brother's daughter')
Hmongnpawg tooj
Although it literally translates to "older younger sibling," it is a broad term that encompasses all cousins of any generation or gender
Kurdishpismam
The origin of the word pismam in Kurdish, its etymology, is unclear, but some suggest an origin in the word for elder relative.
Turkishhala kızı
"Hala kızı" literally means "aunt's daughter" in Turkish, but it is also used to refer to a female first cousin.
Xhosaumzala
The word 'umzala' can also refer to a sibling of the opposite sex, and is often used as a term of endearment or respect for a close friend.
Yiddishשוועסטערקינד
The Yiddish word "שוועסטערקינד" (cousin) is derived from the German word "Schwesterkind", meaning "sibling's child".
Zuluumzala
'Umzala' also means 'person of the same age' or 'person of the same age group'
Assameseমাহী
Aymarajila masi
Bhojpuriचचेरा
Dhivehiދެބެންގެ ދެދަރި
Dogriपरतेर
Filipino (Tagalog)pinsan
Guaranitiora'y
Ilocanokasinsin
Kriokɔzin
Kurdish (Sorani)ئامۆزا
Maithiliपितियौत
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯄꯣꯛꯃꯤꯟꯅꯗꯕ ꯏꯆꯤꯜ ꯏꯅꯥꯎ
Mizounau
Oromoilmaan obbolootaa
Odia (Oriya)ଜ୍ୱାଇଁ
Quechuaprimo
Sanskritभ्रातृव्यः
Tatarтуган
Tigrinyaወዲ ሓው አቦ
Tsongakhazi

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