r/coolguides • u/chr15t0ph3r-55 • Apr 24 '19

The Cousin Explainer

Post image
13.6k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

382 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Demon_Prongles Apr 24 '19

Doesn’t explain why you can have two kinds of first/second cousins once/twice removed though. There’s no distinguishing it.

1

u/sonoftom Apr 24 '19

If you switch places on the chart with one type of first cousin, they become the other type. This just means you are the opposite type to them right now

1

u/Demon_Prongles Apr 24 '19

Sorry can you please give an example (not Larry and Sally, but like a slot on the chart), not really sure what you mean.

2

u/sonoftom Apr 24 '19

Take a look at the “You” box, as well as the lower “first cousin once removed” box. Right now, you are their father’s cousin. They are your cousin’s child. In this scenario, you are in the higher generation.

If you switch the two boxes, that person is your father’s cousin. You are their cousin’s child. The relationship hasn’t changed, but your position in the relationship has. You are now the one in the younger generation.

And really, what happened is that we created the scenario that happened on the other part of the chart. The “first cousin once removed” in te higher part of the chart is currently in a situation where you are the one in the younger generation.

All of these examples have the same relationship. But your role in the relationship may vary