いとこ

• Reading: いとこ
• Romaji: itoko
• Kanji breakdown: 従 (jū) — follow; 兄 (kei/ani) — older brother; 弟 (tei/otōto) — younger brother
• Pronunciation: /i.to.ko/

Meaning

Cousin (male). A child of one's uncle or aunt, specifically a male cousin.

A noun for a male cousin, formally written as 従兄弟 in kanji. In everyday use, いとこ is almost always written in hiragana regardless of the cousin's gender. The kanji 従兄弟 specifies a male cousin, while 従姉妹 specifies a female cousin, but this distinction is rarely used in modern writing. Often simply translated as 'cousin' since English does not distinguish by gender.

Examples

1. いとこは東京の大学に通っている。 My cousin goes to a university in Tokyo.
2. 夏休みにいとこの家に遊びに行った。 I went to stay at my cousin's house during summer vacation.
3. 私のいとこは三人いて、みんな男だ。 I have three cousins and they're all guys.

Usage Guide

Context: family, daily conversation, introductions

Tone: casual

Origin & History

The kanji 従兄弟 is composed of 従 (follow, accompany), 兄 (older brother), and 弟 (younger brother), reflecting a relative of the same generation through a parental sibling.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal