co-ogha
masculine
The English word cousin is translated into Gaelic as co-ogha. Wiktionary also lists dà-ghlùn and mac-bràthar-athar.
Meaning: child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | Note |
|---|---|
| co-ogha | masculine |
| dà-ghlùn | feminine |
| mac-bràthar-athar | masculine |
| nighean-bràthar-athar | feminine |
| mac-bràthar-màthar | masculine |
| mac-piuthar-seanar | masculine |
| nighean-bràthar-seanmhar | feminine |
| fionn-ogha sinn-sinn-seanair | masculine |
Which one should you use?
Gaelic uses different forms to specify the cousin's gender and their exact relation to your family: – co-ogha is a masculine form. – dà-ghlùn is a feminine form. – mac-bràthar-athar is a masculine form. – nighean-bràthar-athar is a feminine form. – mac-bràthar-màthar is a masculine form. – mac-piuthar-seanar is a masculine form. – nighean-bràthar-seanmhar is a feminine form. – fionn-ogha sinn-sinn-seanair is a masculine form.
Did you know?
- The complexity of these terms meant that in old Gaelic society, your exact place in the kinship system determined your rights to land and inheritance. To name a cousin correctly was to state your legal standing.
- The term mac-bràthar-athar literally translates to 'son of father's brother', meaning the phrase itself acts as a tiny family tree. This makes the relationship part of the noun's identity.
- The word co-ogha is built from the prefix co-, which often implies 'together' or 'joint'. This suggests a conceptual connection of being 'together' in a shared familial group.
Example sentences for Gaelic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Hamish and Mairead are talking about a family gathering.
- HamishCò a tha seo, a Mhairead?Who is this, Mairead?
- MaireadIs e seo mo co-ogha.This is my cousin.
- HamishCoinneamh math a th' ann!Nice to meet you!
- MaireadTapadh leat, a Hamish.Thank you, Hamish.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cousin” translations and entries co-ogha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries co-ogha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
