Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'cousin'

English Word: cousin

Key Russian Translations:

• кузен [ˈkuzʲɪn] - [Masculine, Formal]
• кузина [kuˈzʲinə] - [Feminine, Formal]
• двоюродный брат [dvɐˈjʉrədnɨj brat] - [Masculine, Informal, Literal: "second cousin brother"]
• двоюродная сестра [dvɐˈjʉrədnəjə sʲɪˈstra] - [Feminine, Informal, Literal: "second cousin sister"]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in family contexts)

Difficulty: A2-B1 (Beginner to Intermediate; varies by term, with "кузен/кузина" being easier and "двоюродный брат/сестра" slightly more complex due to compound structure)

Pronunciation (Russian):

кузен: [ˈkuzʲɪn]

Note on кузен: Stress falls on the first syllable; the 'е' is pronounced as a soft 'ye' sound.

кузина: [kuˈzʲinə]

Note on кузина: Stress on the second syllable; the final 'а' is unstressed and sounds like a schwa.

двоюродный брат: [dvɐˈjʉrədnɨj brat]

двоюродная сестра: [dvɐˈjʉrədnəjə sʲɪˈstra]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. Male Cousin (General Term for a Male Relative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кузен - Used in formal or literary contexts to refer to a male cousin.
• двоюродный брат - More common in everyday speech, explicitly means a male cousin (literally "second cousin brother").

Usage Examples:

• Мой кузен живёт в Москве.

  My cousin lives in Moscow.

• Мой двоюродный брат приехал на выходные.

  My cousin came over for the weekend.

• Я познакомился с кузеном на семейном ужине.

  I met my cousin at a family dinner.

2. Female Cousin (General Term for a Female Relative)

Translation(s) & Context:

• кузина - Formal or literary term for a female cousin.
• двоюродная сестра - Common in casual speech, explicitly means a female cousin (literally "second cousin sister").

Usage Examples:

• Моя кузина очень талантлива.

  My cousin is very talented.

• Мы с двоюродной сестрой часто проводим время вместе.

  My cousin and I often spend time together.

• Двоюродная сестра прислала мне письмо.

  My cousin sent me a letter.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

кузен (Masculine Noun): Follows the standard masculine declension pattern.

кузина (Feminine Noun): Follows the standard feminine declension pattern ending in 'а'.

двоюродный брат / двоюродная сестра: Compound phrases; "двоюродный/двоюродная" is an adjective agreeing in gender, number, and case with "брат" (brother) or "сестра" (sister), which decline accordingly.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms (for кузен/кузина):

• родственник (relative, masculine)
• родственница (relative, feminine)

Note: These are broader terms and less specific than "cousin."

Antonyms: None directly applicable, as "cousin" does not have a direct opposite in familial terms.

Related Phrases:

• двоюродный брат по материнской линии - Cousin on the maternal side.
• двоюродная сестра по отцовской линии - Cousin on the paternal side.
• встреча с кузеном - Meeting with a cousin.

Usage Notes:

• "кузен" and "кузина" are borrowed from French and are more formal or literary; they are less common in casual conversation.
• "двоюродный брат" and "двоюродная сестра" are the standard, everyday terms for cousin and are more precise in indicating the degree of relation (second cousin in a broader sense, though often used for any cousin).
• Unlike English, Russian distinguishes gender explicitly; you must choose the appropriate term based on the cousin's gender.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "кузен" for a female cousin. Correct: Use "кузина" for a female cousin. Example: Incorrect - "Моя кузен красивая" vs. Correct - "Моя кузина красивая" (My cousin is beautiful).
• Error: Omitting "двоюродный/двоюродная" in informal speech, leading to confusion with "брат" (brother) or "сестра" (sister). Correct: Always include "двоюродный" to clarify the relationship.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, family ties are often emphasized, and terms like "двоюродный брат" or "двоюродная сестра" may be used affectionately even for distant relatives. Family gatherings frequently involve cousins, and addressing them with the appropriate gendered term is important for politeness.

Related Concepts:

• родственник (relative)
• брат (brother)
• сестра (sister)
• тётя (aunt)
• дядя (uncle)