"Cousin" (also spelled "Kusin") is masculine in German — the correct article is der. The plural is die Cousins (or die Kusins). In English, Cousin means "male cousin". The female counterpart is die Cousine (female cousin)."Der Cousin" is essential family vocabulary — it describes the son of your uncle or aunt. Unlike in English, where "cousin" is often gender-neutral, German distinguishes strictly between male (der Cousin) and female (die Cousine). Below you'll find the full declension, example sentences, and a practice quiz.
Gender rule: Male persons and family members are inherently masculine. The word originates from French, but the germanized spelling "Kusin" is also officially recognized in modern German. See all patterns in the German Article Rules.
Cousin / Kusin — Declension Table
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Cousin (Kusin) | die Cousins (Kusins) |
| Genitive | des Cousins (Kusins) | der Cousins (Kusins) |
| Dative | dem Cousin (Kusin) | den Cousins (Kusins) |
| Accusative | den Cousin (Kusin) | die Cousins (Kusins) |
Example Sentences with Cousin
Der Cousin spielt im Garten Fußball.
(The cousin is playing football in the garden.) — Nominative
Ich sehe den Cousin auf dem Foto.
(I see the cousin in the photo.) — Accusative
Wir gratulieren dem Cousin zum Geburtstag.
(We congratulate the cousin on his birthday.) — Dative
Die Wohnung des Cousins ist sehr modern.
(The cousin's apartment is very modern.) — Genitive
Die Cousins kommen aus Berlin.
(The cousins come from Berlin.) — Nominative Plural
Sie schreibt den Cousins eine E-Mail.
(She is writing the cousins an email.) — Dative Plural
Related Words & Compounds
Semantic field (Das Wortfeld): die Familie (family), die Verwandtschaft (relatives / kinship), die Cousine / Kusine (female cousin), die Tante (aunt), der Onkel (uncle), die Nichte (niece), der Neffe (nephew), die Schwester (sister), der Bruder (brother), der Vater (father), die Mutter (mother)
Common compounds (Komposita): der Großcousin (second cousin - male)
Common Mistake with Cousin / Cousinen
❌ Common mistake: Die Cousinen sind sehr nett. (When you mean male cousins)
✅ Correct: Die Cousins sind sehr nett.
💡 Why: In German, die Cousinen refers exclusively to a group of female cousins. If you are talking about male cousins or a mixed group, you must use the masculine plural die Cousins. Confusing these two is a very common error for English speakers.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
1. Das Auto ___ Cousins steht vor der Tür.
- A) dem
- B) des
- C) der
Check Answer
This requires the genitive case (whose car?). Masculine genitive = des + noun ends in -s.
2. Lukas ist ein nett___ Cousin.
- A) -e
- B) -en
- C) -er
Check Answer
After an indefinite article in the nominative masculine, the adjective ending is -er: ein netter Cousin.
3. Ich kenne ___ Cousin schon lange.
- A) den
- B) dem
- C) der
Check Answer
The verb "kennen" requires an accusative object. Masculine accusative = den.
Want to practice more? The Article Trainer includes hundreds of nouns, including family vocabulary and loanwords.
More People & Family Nouns
- der Opa — the grandpa
- die Oma — the grandma
- die Großmutter — the grandmother
- die Tochter — the daughter
- der Sohn — the son
- das Kind — the child
- der Junge — the boy
For more, check the vocabulary overview or take more vocabulary quizzes.
Is it der, die, or das Cousin? Practice makes perfect.
The Article Trainer gives you 600+ nouns to drill — including family vocabulary and tricky loanwords. Master the articles once and for all.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cousin / Kusin masculine, feminine, or neuter in German?
Cousin is masculine — the correct article is der. This applies to both the traditional spelling Cousin and the germanized Kusin.
What is the difference between Cousin and Kusin?
There is no difference in meaning. Cousin is the French-based spelling and is the most common version. Kusin is an officially recognized germanized spelling, though it is used much less frequently in everyday writing.
What is the difference between Cousin and Cousine?
Der Cousin refers to a male cousin. Die Cousine refers to a female cousin. In the plural, die Cousins can refer to a mixed group, while die Cousinen is only for females.
What is the plural of Cousin?
The plural is die Cousins. Because it is a loanword, it adds an -s instead of the more common German plural endings like -e or -en.
