いとこ

いとこ refers to a cousin regardless of gender or relative age. In everyday speech, the word is gender-neutral and almost always written in hiragana.

Writing

Different kanji specify the cousin's gender and relative age:

• 従兄(いとこ): older male cousin
• 従姉(いとこ): older female cousin
• 従弟(いとこ): younger male cousin
• 従妹(いとこ): younger female cousin
• 従兄弟(いとこ): male cousins (general)
• 従姉妹(いとこ): female cousins (general)

Common expressions

• いとこ同士(どうし): between cousins
• いとこの子(こ): cousin's child

Related words

• はとこ (再従兄弟(はとこ)): second cousin
• 親戚(しんせき): relative (broader term)