Pronunciation: [kˈʌzənz] (IPA) 
The word cousins is spelled phonetically as /ˈkʌzənz/. The letter "c" represents the sound /k/, while the letters "ou" represent the sound /ʌ/. The letter "s" at the end of the word represents the sound /z/. The "i" in the word is pronounced as /ɪ/, and the letter "n" is silent. Cousins is a plural noun used to refer to the child of one's aunt or uncle.
Cousins are individuals who share a familial relationship by descent from a common ancestor, but who are not siblings or immediate family members. Specifically, cousins are classified as relatives in the same generation as oneself, who are the children of one's aunt or uncle. Cousins can be found on both the maternal and paternal side of a family, depending on which sibling's child is being referred to.
Cousins typically share a set of grandparents, though the degree of genetic similarity and closeness between cousins can vary widely. There are different types of cousins, including first cousins, second cousins, third cousins, and so forth, based on the closeness of their familial connection. First cousins are the children of one's parent's siblings, while second cousins are the offspring of one's grandparents' siblings.
Cousins often share important family bonds and may have regular interactions at family gatherings, events, or occasions. They may engage in activities together, share common memories, and develop relationships akin to siblings, depending on their family dynamics and personal connections. The term "cousin" can also be used more broadly and informally to refer to distant relatives or individuals with whom one shares some level of common ancestry, beyond the strict definition of cousinship.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "cousins" has its origins in the Old French word "cosin", which in turn comes from the Latin word "consobrinus". "Consobrinus" referred to a relationship between individuals who shared the same blood or lineage. In Latin, "con" means "together", and "sobrinus" means "sister’s child" or "cousin". Over time, "cosin" evolved into "cousin" in Middle English, and eventually gave rise to the modern term "cousins" in English.
