Cousin in Spanish 🇪🇸

Pronunciation

Normal speech: PREE-moh
IPA: ‘pɾi.mo

8 months ago

do not confuse with

“Primo” should not be confused with “príncipe,” which means “prince” in Spanish.

7 months ago

variations by country

In some Spanish-speaking countries, such as Argentina, “primo” can also be used as slang to refer to a naive or gullible person. However, this usage should be avoided in polite conversation.

7 months ago

mnemonic

One way to remember the word “primo” is to associate it with “prime” as in “prime family member,” since cousins are often considered important members of a family.

7 months ago

cultural referece

In some Spanish-speaking countries, such as Mexico, it is common to refer to close friends as “primos” (cousins) even if they are not actually related. This usage of the word highlights the importance of strong friendships in Latin American culture.

7 months ago

idioms

“De primera mano” means “firsthand” or “directly.” The idiom comes from the idea of receiving information or an item directly from the source, like getting something “firsthand” from a close family member such as a cousin.

7 months ago

usage

“Primo” is a noun that means “cousin” in Spanish. It can refer to either a male or female cousin.

7 months ago

origin

“Primo” comes from the Latin “primus,” meaning “first.”

7 months ago

primo info.

To help you remember the word “primo” for cousin in Spanish, you can break it down into parts:

1. “Pr” sound in the beginning can help you think of “primary” as cousins can be among your primary relations.
2. The “imo” part could remind you of “hermano,” which means brother in Spanish. This can help because your cousins can be like siblings to you depending on your relationship with them.

In Spanish, synonyms for “primo” in the familial context are scarce since “primo” is the direct term used for both male and female cousins.

However, in slang, “primo” has various alternate meanings. It can be used informally among friends to refer to one another similarly to “buddy” or “mate.” It’s also used in some Spanish-speaking countries as street slang to refer to a close friend, not necessarily a biological cousin.

Examples in sentences:

1. Mi primo y yo vamos al parque juntos. (My cousin and I are going to the park together.)
2. ¿Conoces a la prima de Marta? Ella es muy simpática. (Do you know Marta’s cousin? She is very nice.)
3. En el próximo partido, jugaré contra mi primo. (In the next match, I will play against my cousin.)
4. Cuando era pequeño, pasaba todos los veranos con mis primos. (When I was little, I spent every summer with my cousins.)
5. ¡Hey, primo! ¿Cómo estás? (Hey, buddy! How are you?) – slang use.

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