country cousin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal
Quick answer
What does “country cousin” mean?
A relative from a rural area who is perceived as unsophisticated or provincial.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A relative from a rural area who is perceived as unsophisticated or provincial.
More broadly, any person from a less urbanized area who seems naive or out of place in a city setting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; the term is understood in both varieties, but may be more historically rooted in British English due to class distinctions.
Connotations
Similar in both: implies lack of sophistication, but can be affectionate or derogatory depending on context.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English, but overall low frequency in both.
Grammar
How to Use “country cousin” in a Sentence
NP be a country cousinNP act like a country cousin in NPVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in informal discussions about regional colleagues.
Academic
Occasionally used in literary or sociological contexts to describe characters or social types.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation to describe relatives or acquaintances from rural areas.
Technical
Not used in technical jargon.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “country cousin”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “country cousin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “country cousin”
- Using it for any cousin from the countryside without the connotation of unsophistication.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to a relative from a rural area who is perceived as unsophisticated or provincial.
It can be, depending on context. It is often used humorously, but may be seen as derogatory if intended to mock.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically for anyone from a rural area who seems out of place in an urban setting.
It is not very common in modern usage and is considered somewhat dated, but still understood.
A relative from a rural area who is perceived as unsophisticated or provincial.
Country cousin is usually informal in register.
Country cousin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌntri ˈkʌzən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌntri ˈkʌzən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “country cousin”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cousin from the country who is amazed by skyscrapers and traffic, highlighting their unsophisticated nature.
Conceptual Metaphor
RURAL IS UNSOPHISTICATED
Practice
Quiz
What does 'country cousin' typically imply?