Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اِبْن عَمّ | ibn ʕamm | masculine |
| بِنْت عَمّ | bint ʕamm | feminine |
| اِبْن عَمَّة | ibn ʕamma | masculine |
| بِنْت عَمَّة | bint ʕamma | feminine |
| اِبْن خَال | ibn ḵāl | masculine |
| بِنْت خَال | bint ḵāl | feminine |
| اِبْن خَالَة | ibn ḵāla | masculine |
| بِنْت خَالَة | bint ḵāla | feminine |
Arabic does not use a single word for cousin. Instead, you must specify if the cousin is a son or daughter and whether they are related through the father's side or the mother's side.
What does it mean word for word?
The term اِبْن عَمّ literally means 'son of paternal uncle'. The term بِنْت عَمّ literally means 'daughter of paternal uncle'.
Which one should you use?
The forms are categorized by the gender of the cousin and their relation to the father or mother. To describe a paternal cousin (child of a father's brother), use اِبْن عَمّ for a male or بِنْت عَمّ for a female. To describe a maternal cousin (child of a mother's brother), use اِبْن خَال for a male or بِنْت خَال for a female.
How does it change in a sentence?
The terms are divided into masculine and feminine forms to match the gender of the cousin being discussed.
How do you pronounce it?
ibn ʕamm
Did you know?
- In some dialects, the phrase يا اِبْن عَمّي (my cousin) is used colloquially to address a close friend or a fellow countryman, even if no biological relation exists.
- In many Arabic speaking cultures, the term اِبْن عَمّ can be used as a poetic or traditional way to describe a prospective groom, as paternal cousins were historically preferred marriage partners.
- In some regional Arabic traditions, marrying a 'paternal cousin' or a 'maternal cousin' is a practice that carries different social and historical connotations depending on the specific term used.
Example sentences for Arabic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Layla and Ziad are looking at a family photo.
- ليلى Laylaمن هذا الشاب في الصورة يا زياد؟Man hadha al-shabb fi al-sura ya Ziyad?Who is this young man in the photo, Ziad?
- زياد Ziadهذا اِبْن عَمّي، هو يسكن في دبي.Hadha ibn 'ammi, huwa yaskun fi Dubai.This is my cousin, he lives in Dubai.
- ليلى Laylaهل هو في مثل عمرك؟Hal huwa fi mithl 'umrika?Is he about your age?
- زياد Ziadنعم، هو أكبر مني بسنة واحدة فقط.Na'am, huwa akbar minni sana wahida faqat.Yes, he is only one year older than me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cousin” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
