Japanese word

いとこ

Pronunciation

Romajiitoko

Meaning

  • nouncousin

Example

私のいとこは大学生です。watashi no i to ko wa dai gaku sei de su

My cousin is a college student.

Illustration for いとこ (cousin)

More examples

夏休みにいとこの家へ遊びに行きます。natsu yasu mi ni i to ko no ie e aso bi ni i ki ma su

I visit my cousin's house during summer vacation.

Core concept

Refers to a child of one's aunt or uncle, without specifying the person's gender or age.

Common phrases

  • いとこに会うi to ko ni a u

    meet a cousin

  • いとこと遊ぶi to ko to aso bu

    play with a cousin

Definition in Japanese

親の兄弟姉妹の子に当たる人。oya no kyō dai shi mai no ko ni a ta ru hito

Word origin

いとこ (itoko) is a native Japanese kinship term whose exact origin is uncertain, and forms such as 従姉妹 (itoko, "cousin") represent its meaning rather than its original sound.

Usage tips

  • The phrase first cousin once removed describes the child of a cousin or the parent of a cousin, a relationship that English marks separately from cousin.

Word lists with this word