col ceathrair
/kolˠˈcahəɾˠ/ ~ /kolˠˈcaːɾˠ/masculine
The English word cousin is translated into Irish as col ceathrair. It is also spelled col ceathar.
Meaning: child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| col ceathrair | /kolˠˈcahəɾˠ/ ~ /kolˠˈcaːɾˠ/ (Galway) /kɞlˠˈcahəɾˠə/ (Ulster) |
masculine |
| col ceathar | masculine, alternative form |
The term refers to a person who is the child of one's aunt or uncle.
Which one should you use?
col ceathar is an alternative spelling of col ceathrair.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the province of Ulster, particularly in County Donegal, cousins may be called coisinín.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms provided are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kolˠˈcahəɾˠ/ ~ /kolˠˈcaːɾˠ/
Did you know?
- The term col ceathrair literally translates to 'impediment to marriage of four', a reference to ancient kinship rules. It describes the four individuals involved in the relationship: you, your parent, your parent's sibling, and that sibling's child.
- Depending on the dialect, the word for 'cousin' can shift from a description of a marriage law to a phonetic adaptation of an English word.
Example sentences for Irish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Conor and Aoife are looking at family photos.
- ConorCé is é seo, a Aoife?Who is this, Aoife?
- AoifeIs é mo col ceathrair é.He is my cousin.
- ConorAn bhfuil sé ina mhór?Is he tall?
- AoifeTá, tá sé an-airde.Yes, he is very tall.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cousin” translations and entries col ceathrair, col ceathar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries col, col ceathar, col ceathrair, CC BY-SA 4.0.
