Spanish word

primo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈpɾimo/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncousin

Example

¿Dónde vive tu primo?

Where does your cousin live?

Illustration for primo (cousin)

More examples

¿Conoces al primo de Laura?

Do you know Laura's cousin?

Core concept

Child of a parent's sibling.

Common phrases

  • tu primo

    your cousin

  • tener un primo

    have a cousin

  • un primo lejano

    a distant cousin

Similar words

hermano: Same-generation sibling who shares one or both parents.
pariente: Any family member related by blood or by marriage.
tío: A parent's brother or sister in the parent's generation.
sobrino: Child of a brother or sister belonging to a younger generation.

Definition in Spanish

Pariente de la misma generación, normalmente hijo o hija de un tío o una tía.

Word origin

From Latin primus 'first', the word evolved in Romance languages to mean a close relative and in Spanish denotes the child of an uncle or aunt.

Usage tips

  • In Spain colloquial 'ser un primo' can mean someone who is easily fooled, so it can sound insulting in jokes or when meeting someone new.

Word lists with this word