French · People & Family
"Cousin" in French: cousin / cousine
le cousin / la cousine
Cousin in French is le cousin for a male and la cousine for a female. Les cousins can mean cousins in general. Match the ending to the person.
Family reunion
Mon cousin arrive demain de Lyon.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cousin / cousine
Say it
koo-ZEHN / koo-ZEEN
/ku.zɛ̃/ /ku.zin/
Cousin is koo-ZEHN (nasal in). Cousine is koo-ZEEN. The s between vowels sounds like z.
"Cousin" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le cousin | male cousin A man or boy. | A man or boy. |
| la cousine | female cousin A woman or girl. | A woman or girl. |
| les cousins | cousins Mixed group or general. | Mixed group or general. |
| mon cousin germain | my first cousin More precise kinship. | More precise kinship. |
How to use cousin / cousine in real life
- 1Family reunion
Mon cousin arrive demain de Lyon.
My cousin arrives tomorrow from Lyon.
Mon cousin for a male.
- 2Photo album
Voici ma cousine Léa, on a le même âge.
This is my cousin Léa; we're the same age.
Ma cousine for a female.
- 3Planning a party
J'invite tous mes cousins ce week-end.
I'm inviting all my cousins this weekend.
Cousins can cover a mixed group.
Mistakes English speakers make with cousin / cousine
Incorrect: Ma cousin s'appelle Paul.
Correct: Mon cousin s'appelle Paul.
Male cousin takes mon cousin.
Incorrect: Mon cousine habite ici.
Correct: Ma cousine habite ici.
Female cousin is ma cousine.
Good to know
French keeps a clear gender split: cousin / cousine. At large family gatherings, mes cousins often means the whole cousin crowd, not only the boys.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Spotting family at a wedding
ChatPal
Tu vois mon cousin près du buffet ?
Do you see my cousin near the buffet?
You
Celui en bleu ? Et ta cousine est où ?
The one in blue? And where's your cousin?
ChatPal
Elle parle avec les témoins dehors.
She's talking with the witnesses outside.
You
Ok, j'irai lui dire bonjour.
Okay, I'll go say hello to her.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Cousin" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Cousin" in French
How do you say cousin in French?
Le cousin (male) or la cousine (female).
Which article do I use?
Mon cousin, ma cousine; les cousins for several.
Can cousins mean mixed genders?
Yes, les cousins often means cousins in general.
How is cousin pronounced?
Koo-ZEHN; cousine is koo-ZEEN.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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