mi hermosa prima
/mi eɾmosa pɾima/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'my beautiful cousin' is translated into Spanish as mi hermosa prima.
This phrase is used to describe a female cousin who is physically attractive.
Which one should you use?
While mi hermosa prima is a common way to express this, you can also use mi bella prima, which carries a slightly more poetic or formal quality. Mi linda prima is another option that conveys the same meaning but with a more playful and friendly tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must change depending on the gender and number of the cousins being described. To refer to a male cousin, use the masculine forms: mi hermoso primo. To refer to multiple female cousins, you must pluralize the possessive pronoun, the adjective and the noun: mis hermosas primas.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi eɾmosa pɾima/
Did you know?
- To be extremely precise about a 'first cousin', Spanish speakers often add the word 'hermano' to create the term primo hermano.
- The word prima shares a common linguistic ancestor with the English word 'primary', tracing back to the Latin concept of being 'first'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a woman mi prima is a way to signal a bond as close as family, even if the two people are not blood relatives.
Example conversation
María shows a photo to Alejandro.
- MaríaMira la foto de mi hermosa prima.Look at the photo of my beautiful cousin.
- AlejandroEs verdad, es muy guapa.It's true, she is very pretty.
- MaríaSí, mi hermosa prima siempre se viste bien.Yes, my beautiful cousin always dresses well.
- AlejandroTienen rasgos muy parecidos.You have very similar features.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mi, prima, CC BY-SA 4.0.
