primo
/ˈpɾimo/masculine
The Spanish word for cousin is primo. Wiktionary also lists prima and cousin.
Meaning: child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| primo | /ˈpɾimo/ | masculine |
| prima | /ˈpɾima/ | feminine |
| cousin | /kousin/ (from spelling rules) | US, common gender |
This noun refers to the child of a person’s parent’s brother or sister.
Which one should you use?
While the English word 'cousin' is gender-neutral, Spanish requires you to specify the gender of the person you are talking about. Use primo to refer to a male cousin and prima to refer to a female cousin.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the plural, the form primos is used to refer to a group of male cousins or a mixed group containing both males and females. If the group consists only of female cousins, use the feminine plural form primas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɾimo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term primo is used colloquially as a friendly way to address a stranger, similar to calling someone 'mate' or 'dude' in English.
- While primo means 'cousin', the word prima can also refer to a premium payment or an insurance premium in a financial context.
- The word primo shares the same root as the English word 'prime', meaning both relate to being 'first' or 'foremost'.
Examples in context
- No es mi primo.He isn't my cousin.This sentence is useful for practicing the negative form of primo.Tatoeba #399804 by hayastan, translation #297738 by CK
- Tom es mi primo.Tom is my cousin.This sentence is useful for identifying a person using primo.Tatoeba #2343139 by hayastan, translation #2273297 by CK
- Este es mi primo.This is my cousin.This sentence is useful for introducing someone as your primo.Tatoeba #1351441 by marcelostockle, translation #61487 by CK
- Hola, ¿cómo está usted? Me llamo María y estos son mis primos, Pedro y Ana.Hello, how are you? My name is María and these are my cousins, Pedro and Ana.
- Mi primo Juan vive en México.My cousin Juan lives in Mexico.
- Ayer fui al cine con mi prima Laura.Yesterday, I went to the movies with my cousin Laura.
- 105 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are looking at old family photos.
- Lucía¿Quién es este niño?Who is this boy?
- JavierEs mi primo, de cuando éramos pequeños.It is my cousin, from when we were little.
- LucíaTu primo se parece mucho a ti.Your cousin looks a lot like you.
- JavierSí, somos muy parecidos.Yes, we are very similar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cousin” translations and entries primo, prima, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prima, primo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
