In German
der Cousin / die Cousine
Meaning: cousin
Example sentences
MeinCousinwohntinMünchen.
My cousin (male) lives in Munich.
MeineCousineistÄrztin.
My cousin (female) is a doctor.
WirtreffenunsereCousinsamWochenende.
We're meeting our cousins this weekend.
Grammar note
German has separate words by gender: “der Cousin” (male) and “die Cousine” (female), both borrowed from French. The older, native words “der Vetter” and “die Base” still exist but sound old-fashioned today.
Common mistake
Don't use “Cousin” for a female cousin — German distinguishes gender here, unlike English, so you need “Cousine” for a woman.
Quick check
Which word(s) mean “cousin” in German?
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Practise it in a lesson →Frequently asked questions
Is there one word for “cousin” in German?
No — “der Cousin” for male, “die Cousine” for female.
What are the older German words for cousin?
“Der Vetter” and “die Base”, now old-fashioned.