Genealogy uses different systems in English and French to describe cousin relationships.

English uses a “removed” system based on generational distance, while French terminology is historically rooted in kinship proximity.

This page provides a simple visual guide to the most common terms, making it easier to move between both languages when researching family history.

First cousin

Second cousin

Third cousin

Then comes “removed”

First cousin once removed

Same family line, BUT:

• one person is one generation higher/lower

So what is:

“5th cousin 8 times removed”?

It means:

• you share the same 4x-great-grandparents (that makes you 5th cousins)
• BUT one person is 8 generations above or below the other

Which usually happens when:

• comparing very distant relatives,
• nobility/royalty trees,
• or giant DNA trees on genealogy websites.

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The logic behind complicated

• The cousin number tells you which shared ancestors you have.
• The removed number tells you the difference in generations between the two people.

Cousin number = shared ancestor level
Removed = generation difference

📌 QUICK SUMMARY

Key French Equivalents

• First cousin → cousin germain → same grandparents
• Second cousin → cousin au second degré → same great-grandparents
• Third cousin → cousin au troisième degré → same great-great-grandparents
• First cousin once removed → cousin issu de germain → your cousin’s child OR your parent’s cousin