cousin

USAGE SUMMARY

'cousin' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as an informal way to refer to another person who is related to you through having a common ancestor. For example, "My cousin came over for a visit yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What, we're supposed to call his cousin?" A large man in front of me with graying hair sounds relieved: "I thought I was the only one who thought this whole thing is ridiculous".

The Guardian

He had been given the tip by his cousin, a player in the Turkish ladies national volleyball team.

The Guardian - Sport

Grainger's cousin, Wesley Ahmed, has held a series of high-profile protests about GMP's involvement in Grainger's death, camping for several weeks outside various police stations in Manchester.

The Guardian

Higgins made his own gesture when he bowed his head at the memorial brass in Westminster Abbey to Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the Queen's second cousin, who was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.

The Guardian

My cousin is 52 and was a beautiful, intelligent child and young adult, but he became an alcoholic and has been for the past 25 years.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I've got a customer who has a dollar in his pocket and has got to decide to have some lunch, call his cousin or go to the doctor.

The Guardian

"It's just a terrible accident," Leticia Beal, a cousin of Codrick's mother, Ashley Beal, told the Houston Chronicle.

The Guardian

My cousin told me she only really wanted a small occasion for her nearest and dearest and didn't want her husband paying the wedding off for years, as is often the case.

The Guardian - Opinion

He is in no rush to be married and have children, though a much-loved two-year-old cousin makes him feel broody.

The Guardian - Music

The scene when Frank accuses Nick of not doing enough to look after his cousin, and Nick hands it straight back: "You're his father".

The Guardian

In fact, we've found that Obama has no less than 44 confirmed cousins in the Senate, including Texas Republican Ted Cruz (the husband of Obama's 14th cousin, once removed) and Arizona Republican Jeff Flake Obamaa's eighth cousin, three times removed).

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the degree of cousinhood, use terms like "first cousin", "second cousin", or "cousin once removed" to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the term "cousin" for very distant relatives where the connection is tenuous. Instead, opt for "distant relative" or "family connection".

Linguistic Context

The word "cousin" functions primarily as a noun, denoting a family relationship. It identifies an individual who shares a common ancestor but is not a direct descendant, as shown in the Ludwig examples. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cousin" is a common noun used to describe a specific type of family relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. Analysis of the examples shows it appears most often in news and media contexts, used to describe relationships in both personal and public narratives. It is important to specify the degree of cousinhood for clarity, and to avoid misapplying the term to very distant relatives. The word is generally neutral in tone and applicable across various registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

first cousin

Specifies the closest degree of cousinhood.

full cousin

Another term for a first cousin.

second cousin

Indicates a more distant relationship than a first cousin.

distant relative

A more general term for someone related but not closely.

family member

A broad term including all relatives.

blood relative

Emphasizes the genetic connection.

kinsman

A formal term for a male relative.

kinswoman

A formal term for a female relative.

relative

A general term for someone in your family.

family connection

Highlights the familial link.

FAQs

How to use "cousin" in a sentence?

You can use "cousin" to refer to the child of your aunt or uncle, as in "My cousin is visiting this weekend", or more broadly to any relative who is not a direct ancestor or descendant.

What can I say instead of "cousin"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "first cousin", "second cousin", or "distant relative".

Which is correct, "cousin" or "cuz"?

"Cousin" is the standard spelling, while "cuz" is an informal abbreviation used in casual conversation or writing.

What's the difference between "first cousin" and "second cousin"?

A "first cousin" is the child of your aunt or uncle, while a "second cousin" is the child of your parent's cousin.