The word for cousin in Italian is cugino. Unlike the English word however, you can specify the gender of the person by changing the last letter of the word. A male cousin is a cugino and a female cousin is a cugina.
There are also masculine and feminine versions of the plural cousins. Many male cousins, or a mix of male and female cousins, are known as cugini and many female cousins are called cugine.
Ho quattro cugine e solo un cugino.
I have four female cousins and only one male cousin.
Of course cousins exist to varying degrees as you can see below:
- cugino di primo grado = first cousin
- cugino di secondo grado = second cousin / first cousin once removed
- cugino di terzo grado = third cousin / first cousin twice removed
- lontano cugino = distant cousin
Roberto è un lontano cugino ma vado più d’accordo con lui che con il resto della famiglia!
Roberto is a distant cousin but I get along with him better than the rest of my family!
When referring to children, people often use the diminutive forms cuginetto (masculine) or cuginetta (feminine). They literally translate as little cousin.
Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.
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I'm Heather Broster, a linguistics graduate with honors from the University of Western Ontario, and I'm truly passionate about languages. My expertise extends to various languages, including English, Italian, Japanese, Welsh, and French. I've spent a significant amount of time in Italy, residing there for six years and immersing myself in the language and culture.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article dated November 15, 2023, authored by me:
Italian Terminology for Cousins: In Italian, the word for cousin is "cugino." What sets it apart from English is the ability to specify gender by changing the last letter. A male cousin is a "cugino," while a female cousin is a "cugina." The plural forms are "cugini" for many male or mixed-gender cousins and "cugine" for many female cousins.
Degree of Cousinship: Cousins exist in various degrees:
- Cugino di primo grado: First cousin
- Cugino di secondo grado: Second cousin / First cousin once removed
- Cugino di terzo grado: Third cousin / First cousin twice removed
- Lontano cugino: Distant cousin
The article provides an example: "Ho quattro cugine e solo un cugino," meaning "I have four female cousins and only one male cousin."
Diminutive Forms for Children: When referring to children, diminutive forms are used: "cuginetto" for masculine and "cuginetta" for feminine. These translate as "little cousin."
Example Sentence: The article includes an example sentence: "Roberto è un lontano cugino ma vado più d’accordo con lui che con il resto della famiglia!" Translated, it means "Roberto is a distant cousin, but I get along with him better than the rest of my family!"
About the Author - Heather Broster: I, Heather Broster, am the author of the article. My educational background includes honors in linguistics, and I'm an aspiring polyglot. I focus on language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction. Having lived in various countries, with a significant period in Italy, I bring a unique perspective to language learning and cultural immersion.
Ethics Statement: The article includes affiliate links, and if readers make a purchase through these links, a small commission is received. The ethics statement assures transparency regarding affiliate relationships.
Language Learning Recommendations: Towards the end, the article recommends Lingopie as a language learning application using real TV shows and movies. It also suggests Serena Capilli's short stories in Italian for a fun and stress-free learning experience, optimized for English speakers in search of a laid-back learning journey.
Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions or if you'd like more information on any aspect of the article!
