cousins
The French word for cousins is cousins.
The term refers to the children of one's aunts or uncles.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, French uses gender-specific forms for cousin depending on whether the person is male or female.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes based on gender and number. The masculine singular form is cousin for a male cousin. The feminine singular form is cousine for a female cousin. The feminine plural form is cousines for female cousins. The masculine plural form cousins is used for a group of male cousins or a mixed group of male and female cousins.
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'cousin' for anyone in their generation of the family, a French speaker might use cousin loosely in informal slang to refer to a 'buddy' or 'pal'.
- The French word cousinade refers to a large family gathering specifically for cousins to reunite.
- When referring to 'first cousins' in French, one often says cousins germains, which literally translates to 'germane cousins'.
Examples in context
- Toi et moi sommes cousins.You and I are cousins.This sentence is useful for stating that two people are cousins using cousins.Tatoeba #1286629 by sacredceltic, translation #8161337 by TheNightAvl
- Ils sont cousins au second degré.They're second cousins.This sentence is useful for explaining that people are second cousins using cousins.Tatoeba #2966535 by Blabla, translation #10268233 by AlanF_US
- Comment s'appellent tes cousins ?What are your cousins called?This sentence is useful for asking for the names of someone's cousins using cousins.Tatoeba #9075965 by Julien_PDC, translation #11588986 by machisma
- J'ai prévu de passer le week-end avec les cousins germains à la campagne.I have planned to spend the weekend with my first cousins in the countryside.
- J'ai une grande famille, et je suis très proche de mes cousins .I have a large family, and I am very close to my cousins.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are looking at old family photos.
- HugoEst-ce que ce sont tes cousins ?Are these your cousins?
- LéaOui, ce sont mes cousins de Bretagne.Yes, they are my cousins from Brittany.
- HugoIls ont l'air très sympas, tes cousins.Your cousins look very nice.
- LéaMerci, je les aime beaucoup.Thanks, I love them a lot.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
