Free tool
How are we related?
Work out exactly how you’re related to someone through the ancestor you both share — first cousins, second cousin once removed, and everything in between — with the right term in your language.
The closest relative you both share is…
…
Both grandparent → first cousins · your grandparent + their great-grandparent → first cousin once removed.
Cousins, explained
It all comes down to your closest shared ancestor and how many generations each of you sits below them.
| Your shared ancestor is your… | …and their… | You are their… |
|---|---|---|
| grandparent | grandparent | first cousin |
| grandparent | great-grandparent | nibling |
| grandparent | great-great-grandparent | grandchild |
| great-grandparent | great-grandparent | second cousin |
| great-grandparent | great-great-grandparent | nibling |
| great-great-grandparent | great-great-grandparent | third cousin |
Questions
What is a first cousin?
You're first cousins when you share a grandparent — your parent and their parent are brothers or sisters.
What does 'once removed' mean?
‘Removed’ counts a difference in generations. Your first cousin's child is your first cousin once removed — one generation apart.
What's the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin once removed?
Second cousins share a great-grandparent and are in the same generation as each other. A first cousin once removed is one generation apart — for example, your first cousin's child.
How do I find the term for this relationship in my language?
Pick how each of you descends from your shared ancestor above and choose your language — EnVergal's engine shows the exact relationship and term.
What do I call them? — the other free tool, for any relationship in your language. Or read the full guide to Indian family relationships.