いとこ — meaning in English: cousin

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Guess the translation for cousin

消費者

shōhisha

ジョーク

jōku

プラント

puranto

瞬間

shunkan

いとこ

itoko

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informal common

Usage

Native speakers often use the word いとこ (itoko) during family gatherings or casual conversations to refer to their cousins. For instance, you might hear someone say, 'My いとこ is coming over for the holidays,' or when reminiscing, 'When I was a kid, I played with my いとこ every summer.'

Synonyms & nuances

A close synonym for いとこ is 親戚 (shinseki), which means 'relative.' However, 親戚 encompasses all relatives, while いとこ specifically refers to cousins. Use いとこ when you want to highlight that unique relationship among peers in the family.

Culture

The term いとこ (itoko) has roots in the Japanese word for 'thread' (糸, ito), reflecting the idea of family connections being woven together. In Japanese culture, family ties are often emphasized, making the concept of cousins not just about blood relation, but about shared experiences and bonds that can be quite strong.

FAQ

Q.What does いとこ mean in English?

いとこ (itoko) translates to 'cousin' in English. It specifically refers to the children of your aunts and uncles.

Q.How do you use いとこ in a sentence?

You can use いとこ in simple sentences like '私のいとこは学生です' (Watashi no itoko wa gakusei desu), which means 'My cousin is a student.'

Q.Are there any common mistakes with the word いとこ?

One common mistake is using いとこ for all relatives. Remember, いとこ specifically refers to cousins, while other terms like 親戚 (shinseki) should be used for more general family connections.

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