The short answer
Cousin already means the child of your aunt or uncle. It has no gender built in — it covers both male and female. Adding “brother” or “sister” is redundant. The correct word in standard English is simply cousin.
Wrong vs. Right
Wrong
He is my cousin brother.
Right
He is my cousin.
Wrong
She is my cousin sister.
Right
She is my cousin.
Wrong
My cousin brother got married last week.
Right
My cousin got married last week.
Wrong
I visited my cousin sister in Mumbai.
Right
I visited my cousin in Mumbai.
What does ‘cousin’ mean in English?
In English, cousin is a gender-neutral term. It refers to any child of your parent’s sibling — whether that child is male or female, from your father’s side or your mother’s side.
| Hindi / Urdu term | Meaning | English |
|---|---|---|
| chacha ka beta | paternal uncle's son | cousin |
| chacha ki beti | paternal uncle's daughter | cousin |
| maama ka beta | maternal uncle's son | cousin |
| maama ki beti | maternal uncle's daughter | cousin |
| taaya ka beta / beti | elder paternal uncle's child | cousin |
All of the above → one English word: cousin.
Why Does This Happen in Indian English?
Hindi and Urdu have separate words for every branch of the family tree — father’s elder brother is taaya, father’s younger brother is chacha, mother’s brother is maama, and each has a different word for their children too. English collapses all of these into one word: cousin. When Indians switch to English, they feel that “cousin” alone is not specific enough — so they add “brother” or “sister” to restore the gender information. The addition is unnecessary in English but feels natural when translating from Hindi.
If gender matters, here is what to say
In standard English, you would say “my male cousin” or “my female cousin” — or simply use the person’s name. But in most sentences, gender does not need to be stated at all. “My cousin is coming to visit” is perfectly clear without specifying brother or sister.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cousin brother' correct English?+
No. 'Cousin brother' is incorrect in standard English. The word 'cousin' already refers to the child of your aunt or uncle — it carries no gender. You do not need to add 'brother' or 'sister'. The correct word is simply 'cousin' for both male and female relatives.
Why do Indians say 'cousin brother' and 'cousin sister'?+
In Hindi and Urdu, kinship terms are very specific — 'chacha ka beta' (paternal uncle's son) and 'maama ki beti' (maternal uncle's daughter) are different words entirely. When Indians translate these relationships into English, they add 'brother' or 'sister' to make the gender clear. However, English does not need this — 'cousin' covers both.
How do I refer to a male cousin in English?+
Just say 'cousin' — English does not distinguish male from female cousins by default. If you need to specify gender for clarity, say 'my male cousin' or 'my female cousin', or use their name. Never say 'cousin brother' or 'cousin sister' in standard written or spoken English.
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