Portuguese · People & Family
"Cousin" in Portuguese: primo / prima
o primo / a prima
Cousin in Portuguese is o primo (male) or a prima (female). Meus primos can mean mixed cousins as a group. Brazilians often stay close to primos like siblings.
Family barbecue
Meu primo chega às duas com a esposa.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce primo / prima
Say it
PREE-moo / PREE-mah
/ˈpɾi.mu/, /ˈpɾi.ma/
PREE-moo / PREE-mah. Stress PREE.
"Cousin" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o primo | male cousin Masculine singular. | Masculine singular. |
| a prima | female cousin Feminine singular. | Feminine singular. |
| meus primos | my cousins Mixed or all-male group. | Mixed or all-male group. |
| prima-irmã | first cousin (close) Emphasizes blood closeness; regional. | Emphasizes blood closeness; regional. |
| primo de segundo grau | second cousin More distant relation. | More distant relation. |
How to use primo / prima in real life
- 1Family barbecue
Meu primo chega às duas com a esposa.
My cousin arrives at two with his wife.
Meu primo = male cousin.
- 2Phone call
Vou ligar pra minha prima agora.
I'm going to call my cousin now.
Minha prima = female cousin.
- 3Introducing people
Esses são meus primos do Rio.
These are my cousins from Rio.
Meus primos works for a mixed group.
Mistakes English speakers make with primo / prima
Incorrect: Minha primo mora perto.
Correct: Meu primo mora perto.
Match gender: meu primo, minha prima.
Incorrect: Meu cousin veio.
Correct: Meu primo veio.
Use primo/prima, not English cousin.
Good to know
Extended family matters a lot in Brazil. Primos often share holidays, WhatsApp groups, and nicknames. Calling someone primo jokingly can also mean a close friend, depending on region and tone.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a family lunch
ChatPal
Seu primo vem almoçar?
Is your cousin coming for lunch?
You
Vem, e a prima também.
Yes, and the cousin (f) too.
ChatPal
Que bom. Quantos primos no total?
Nice. How many cousins in total?
You
Só esses dois primos hoje.
Just those two cousins today.
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 Portuguese
Primo or prima?
Primo for a male cousin, prima for a female cousin.
How do I say my cousins?
Meus primos (mixed/male) or minhas primas (all female).
Is primo only family?
Mostly family; sometimes a friendly nickname.
Second cousin?
Primo de segundo grau.
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
