पितृव्यपुत्रः
pitṛvyaputraḥ
The Sanskrit word for cousin is पितृव्यपुत्रः (pitṛvyaputraḥ).
This term refers to a child of a person's parent's brother or sister.
Meaning: child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word पितृव्यपुत्रः is a compound meaning 'son of the father's brother'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun पितृव्यपुत्रः changes based on number: the dual form is पितृव्यपुत्रौ (two cousins) and the plural form is पितृव्यपुत्राः (cousins).
How do you pronounce it?
pitṛvyaputraḥ
Did you know?
- Sanskrit distinguishes between the brothers of the father. A 'father's elder brother' and a 'father's younger brother' have different names, which in turn creates different words for their children.
- Unlike English, which uses a plural for any two or more people, Sanskrit uses a special 'dual' form पितृव्यपुत्रौ when referring specifically to exactly two cousins.
Examples in context
- सः मम पितृव्यपुत्रः अस्ति।saḥ mama pitṛvyaputraḥ asti.He is my cousin.
- पितृव्यपुत्रः अतीव बुद्धिमान् अस्ति।pitṛvyaputraḥ atīva buddhimān asti.The cousin is very intelligent.
- कः तव पितृव्यपुत्रः अस्ति?kaḥ tava pitṛvyaputraḥ asti?Who is your cousin?
Example conversation
Vivan and Kavya are talking about their family.
- विवान Vivaanकाव्ये, एषः कः अस्ति?Kāvye, eṣaḥ kaḥ asti?Kavya, who is this?
- काव्या Kavyaएषः मम पितृव्यपुत्रः अस्ति।eṣaḥ mama pitṛvyaputraḥ asti.This is my cousin.
- विवान Vivaanसः कुत्र वसति?saḥ kutra vasati?Where does he live?
- काव्या Kavyaसः नगरे वसति।saḥ nagare vasati.He lives in the city.
