After some recent comments here regarding family relationships I realised that although I have always been aware of terms like "second cousin once removed" I had no real understanding of what exactly they mean. So, just in case anyone in class ever asks me I looked it up.

And, oh boy is it complicated.

I doubt I'll be able to remember it all in even vague terms. I've certainly used it wrongly in the past. For example I have always believed that a second cousin is my father or mother's cousin but that turns out according to the chart to be a first cousin once removed whereas a second cousin would be my father or mother's cousin's kid.

Am I the only one who has used these terms without actually knowing what they mean?

I'm glad you strightened it out. I, too, have been confused about it. But then, my brother was an only child, so it's not surprising.

I've also found it complicated. Clearly, I've used them wrong as well.

How did the class go? I hate it when I have to explain something that I am not quite comfortable with.

While young I ran across a chart of the laws of consanguinity in a law library. This led to an interest later when I studied linguistics in kinship terms in different languages.

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Originally posted by Kalleh:

How did the class go? I hate it when I have to explain something that I am not quite comfortable with.

It wasn't for use in an actual class. I just hope no one ever asks me about it. It's hard enough to explain "step-" and "-in-law" relationships.

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Originally posted by Geoff:
my brother was an only child, so it's not surprising.

Is he the one who married his widow’s sister?

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This led to an interest later when I studied linguistics in kinship terms in different languages.

Did you find that other languages were as complicated about this as English is?

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Did you find that other languages were as complicated about this as English is?

Oh, some are way more complicated than English.

Some languages, like Latin, have different words for maternal vs paternal uncles and aunts: avunculus (maternal uncle), patruus (paternal uncle), amita (paternal aunt), and matertera (maternal aunt).

Odd that we only use one in current English, but with a somewhat different meaning (avulcular).

I posted this or something very like it once before.

Family words in Chinese.

I particularly like the eight different words for cousin depending on whether it's a boy or a girl, mother's or father's side and older or younger than you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BobHale,

Oh, now I vaguely remember that from my Latin classes in high school.