cugino

Cugino is a masculine noun in Italian that denotes a male cousin—the son of one’s aunt or uncle. The feminine form is cugina, and the plural forms are cugini for groups that include at least one male, and cugine for groups of only females. The term is used in both formal and everyday language to describe a kinship within the extended family.

Origin and usage: Cugino derives from Latin consobrinus, via Vulgar Latin, with the feminine consobrina giving rise to cugina. In genealogical contexts, primo cugino refers to a first cousin, while cugino di secondo grado denotes a second cousin; in ordinary speech, primo is often used alone to mean “cousin.”

Variations and colloquial use: Regional dialects in Italy show forms and terms related to the notion of cousin, and diminutives such as cuginetto or cuginetta are used for younger cousins or as affectionate forms. Beyond strict kinship, cugino can appear in colloquial speech as a friendly, informal way to refer to someone within one's extended social circle or as a playful term of endearment among close friends and relatives.

See also: family, parentela, primo (cousin).