Dictionary of English - cousin

The word cousin is used loosely to refer to any relative of the same generation, other than brothers and sisters. Your first cousins are the children of your parents' brothers and sisters. Your second cousins are the children of your parents' first cousins; their children will be third cousins to your children.

The term removed can be used when referring to the children or parents of cousins. Your first cousins' children are your first cousins once removed, their children will be your first cousins twice removed. Your second cousins' parents are your second cousins once removed, their parents are twice removed, and so on.

It is seldom necessary to specify the exact relationship; in everyday use any cousin's children are called simply nieces and nephews and their parents uncles and aunts. The term cousin-in-law, to refer to your partner's cousins or your cousins' partners, exists but is seldom used. It is just as easy, and more specific, to say my husband's cousin or my cousin's wife.

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