primo
/ˈpɾimo/masculine
The Spanish word for cousin is primo. Wiktionary also lists prima and cousin.
Meaning: child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| primo | /ˈpɾimo/ | masculine |
| prima | /ˈpɾima/ | feminine |
| cousin | /kousin/ (from spelling rules) | US, common gender |
The term is used to refer to the child of a person's parent's brother or sister.
Which one should you use?
Use the masculine form primo when referring to a single male cousin and the feminine form prima when referring to a single female cousin.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a group of cousins, use the plural forms. The masculine plural primos is used for a group of male cousins or a mixed group of both male and female cousins. If the group consists only of female cousins, use the feminine plural primas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɾimo/
Did you know?
- The word primo is also used in Spanish to describe a number that is only divisible by itself and one, known in English as a 'prime number'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone primo or prima can be a way to address a close friend or a stranger in an affectionate, informal manner.
- The word primo shares the same root as the English word 'prime', meaning 'first' or 'foremost'.
Examples in context
- No es mi primo.He isn't my cousin.This sentence is useful for denying a relationship using the form primo.Tatoeba #399804 by hayastan, translation #297738 by CK
- Tom es mi primo.Tom is my cousin.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as a cousin using the form primo.Tatoeba #2343139 by hayastan, translation #2273297 by CK
- Este es mi primo.This is my cousin.This sentence is useful for introducing a cousin using the form primo.Tatoeba #1351441 by marcelostockle, translation #61487 by CK
- ¡Hola, Primita! ¿Vamos al parque hoy?Hi, little cousin! Shall we go to the park today?
- 105 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about family at a café.
- Alejandro¿Viene tu primo a la cena?Is your cousin coming to the dinner?
- SofíaSí, mi primo vendrá con nosotros.Yes, my cousin will come with us.
- AlejandroQué bueno, me alegra verlo.That's great, I am happy to see him.
- SofíaÉl también tiene muchas ganas de verte.He is also looking forward to seeing you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cousin” translations and entries primo, prima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prima, primo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
