Cousin
/kuˈzɛ̃/masculine
The German word for cousin is Cousin. It is also spelled Kusine. Wiktionary also lists Vetter and Cousine.
Meaning: child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cousin | /kuˈzɛ̃/ /kuˈzɛ̃ː/ |
masculine |
| Vetter | /ˈfɛtər/ | masculine |
| Cousine | /kuˈziːnə/ (Germany) /kuˈsiːnɛ/ |
feminine |
| Kusine | /kuˈziːnə/ (Germany) /kuˈsiːnɛ/ |
feminine, alternative form |
| Base | /ˈbaːzə/ | feminine, regional |
This term refers to the child of a person's parent's brother or sister.
Which one should you use?
German uses different nouns based on the gender of the person you are describing. Use Cousin or Vetter for a male cousin and Cousine, Kusine or Base for a female cousin.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word Base is a regional term used primarily in parts of Southern Germany and Austria to refer to a female cousin.
How does it change in a sentence?
In German, nouns are assigned a gender. Cousin and Vetter are masculine nouns, while Cousine, Kusine and Base are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kuˈzɛ̃/
Did you know?
- The word Vetter originally meant 'father's brother' in Old High German, making it a term for an uncle before it shifted to mean a cousin.
- The word Cousin is a loanword from French, which is why it retains a French-style pronunciation in German that differs from the usual phonetic rules.
- German offers a strange choice between the modern, French-inspired Cousin and the much older, Germanic Vetter to describe the same male relative.
Examples in context
- Ich bin Toms Base.I'm Tom's cousin.This sentence is useful for identifying yourself as Tom's Base.Tatoeba #8877844 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2235782 by CK
- Das ist mein Cousin.This is my cousin.This sentence is useful for introducing your Cousin.Tatoeba #973630 by Sudajaengi, translation #61487 by CK
- Ist das dein Cousin?Is he your cousin?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is your Cousin.Tatoeba #12193179 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #11948964 by sundown
- Der Vetter meiner Mutter ist heute zu Besuch.My mother's cousin is visiting today.
- Meine Cousine studiert in München.My cousin is studying in Munich.
- Meine Kusine und ich gehen zusammen ins Kino.My cousin and I are going to the movies together.
- Komm her, liebes Vetterchen, wir spielen eine Runde Fußball.Come here, dear little cousin, let's play a round of soccer.
- 168 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are looking at a family photo album.
- JuliaWer ist der Junge auf diesem Foto?Who is the boy in this photo?
- FelixDas ist mein Cousin aus Berlin.That is my cousin from Berlin.
- JuliaIst dein Cousin auch Musiker?Is your cousin also a musician?
- FelixJa, er spielt sehr gut Gitarre.Yes, he plays the guitar very well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cousin” translations and entries Cousin, Vetter, Cousine, Kusine, Base, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Cousin, Cousine, Vetter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
