Is « cousin » masculine or feminine?

« cousin » is masculine. You say le cousin.

Article forms

With the definite article le cousin
With the indefinite article un cousin
With the partitive article du cousin

Plural

The plural is cousins (les cousins). A noun keeps its gender in the plural; only the article stops showing it.

Why the gender

cousin ends in -in. Nouns ending in -in are usually masculine, so cousin follows the pattern. The full rules by ending cover every common suffix.

Related words

Other common nouns that end the same way:

Common questions

Is « cousin » masculine or feminine?

« cousin » is masculine. You say le cousin.

Is it « la cousin » or « le cousin »?

It is « le cousin ». « la cousin » is incorrect.


Check another word, or read the complete guide to French noun gender.