IdiomDaily LifeFrench

Cousin germain

Meaning: A first cousin.

Literally: German cousin

Example: “Nos mères sont sœurs, donc nous sommes cousins germains.” — Our mothers are sisters, so we're first cousins.

Origin: Germain is Latin germanus, of the same parents, and has nothing to do with Germany — the same root gives germane in English. Issu de germain is the next degree out, a first cousin once removed.

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