first cousin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “first cousin” mean?
A person's uncle's or aunt's child.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person's uncle's or aunt's child; a child of one's parent's sibling.
Used metaphorically to describe things that are closely related or similar in nature or origin.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term itself is identical and standard in both varieties. 'Cousin' alone is more common in casual speech in both regions.
Connotations
No significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “first cousin” in a Sentence
[Person] is my first cousin.[Person] and [Person] are first cousins.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first cousin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He is first-cousin to the heir. (noun phrase as predicate)
American English
- They are first-cousin to the owner. (noun phrase as predicate)
adjective
British English
- They have a first-cousin relationship. (compound adjective)
American English
- It was a first-cousin marriage. (compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in legal contexts (e.g., inheritance, conflict of interest involving family relationships).
Academic
Used in anthropology, sociology, and genetics when discussing kinship structures and inheritance patterns.
Everyday
Common in family discussions, storytelling, and social introductions.
Technical
Precise term used in genealogy and legal documents to specify degree of relation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first cousin”
- Using 'first cousin' redundantly when 'cousin' would suffice.
- Confusing 'first cousin' with 'cousin once removed' (which is a different generation).
- Incorrect plural: 'first cousins' (correct) vs. 'first cousin's' (possessive).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
First cousins share a pair of grandparents. Second cousins share a pair of great-grandparents but not grandparents.
No. 'Once removed' indicates a difference in generation. Your first cousin's child is your first cousin once removed, not your first cousin.
Yes, in everyday conversation. 'Cousin' typically means 'first cousin' unless context suggests otherwise. 'First cousin' is used for precision.
It varies by family size. It depends on how many siblings a person's parents have and how many children those siblings have.
A person's uncle's or aunt's child.
First cousin is usually neutral in register.
First cousin: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈkʌz.n̩/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɝːst ˈkʌz.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Kissing cousins (US, informal)”
- “A first cousin to... (figurative, meaning 'closely related to')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'First' in line after siblings. Your parent's sibling's child is your FIRST close cousin.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOSENESS IS KINSHIP ('We're like first cousins' to indicate a close, familial-like bond between ideas or groups).
Practice
Quiz
What is the relationship between you and your mother's brother's son?