[Lexicog] Words for "cousin"

[Azadeh Ghazi]

I am Iranian and my mother tongue is Persian (Farsi). It is true. I confirm that in my language there are 8 distinct forms for "Cousin".
  - male offspring of father's brother: "pesar amoo"
- female offspring of father's brother: "doxtar amoo"
  - male offspring of father's sister: "pesar amme"
  - female offspring of father's sister: "doxtar amme"
- male offspring of mother's brother: "pesar da'i"
- female offspring of mother's brother: "doxtar da'i"
- male offspring of mother's sister: "pesar xale"
- female offspring of mother's sister: "doxtar xale"

   
   
   

Doug Trick <doug_trick at sil.org> wrote:          The English word "cousin" refers to the offspring of a 
parent's sibling. Since the offspring is either male or 
female, a parent is either male or female, and the parent's 
sibling is either male or female, there are (at least) 8 
potential combinations:
- male offspring of father's brother
- female offspring of father's brother
- male offspring of father's sister
- female offspring of father's sister
- male offspring of mother's brother
- female offspring of mother's brother
- male offspring of mother's sister
- female offspring of mother's sister

I recently read somewhere that Farsi has 8 distinct forms, 
corresponding to the above. Can anyone confirm whether or 
not this is true? Or, can anyone confirm whether any other 
language has 8 distinct forms? Or even 4 different forms?

Doug Trick, SIL Philippines


         

 
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