cousin
masculine, standard
The masculine word for a cousin in French is cousin. For a girl it becomes cousine and a group of cousins that includes at least one boy is cousins. It is also called cousin germain.
Meaning: male cousin (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| cousin | masculine, standard |
| cousin germain | masculine, first cousin |
People say mon cousin for "my cousin" and ton cousin for "your cousin". When you need to be exact about a first cousin, you can say cousin germain.
How does it change in a sentence?
The article changes with the gender: un cousin is a male cousin and une cousine is a female one. The plural les cousins is used for mixed groups.
How do you pronounce it?
The ending of cousin is a nasal sound, so it comes out close to "koo-ZAN" without a clear "n".
Did you know?
- The word germain in cousin germain comes from Latin germanus, which meant "of the same parents".
Examples in context
- Mon cousin habite à Lyon.My cousin lives in Lyon.
- Je vais voir mes cousins ce week-end.I am going to see my cousins this weekend.
- Paul est le cousin de Claire.Paul is Claire's cousin.
Example conversation
Camille talks with her friend Hugo about the weekend.
- HugoTu fais quoi samedi ?What are you doing on Saturday?
- CamilleJe vois mon cousin Paul.I am seeing my cousin Paul.
- HugoIl habite près d'ici ?Does he live near here?
- CamilleNon, il vient de Lyon.No, he comes from Lyon.
