I’ve heard this phrase countless times, but never really took the time to figure out exactly what it meant. Yesterday I happened upon a useful description of this term, so I thought I would share in case I haven’t been the only one wondering…

When “removed” is used to describe a relationship, if indicates that the two people are from different generations.  You and your first cousins are usually in the same generation – two generations younger than your grandparents – so the word “removed” isn’t used.

The words “once removed” mean there is a difference of one generation.  Your mother’s first cousin is your first cousin, once removed.  Twice-removed means a two-generation difference.  First cousins have two of the same grandparents as you.  Second cousins have the same great-grandparents as you, but not the same grandparents; third cousins, the same great-great-grandparents, and so forth.

There…does that clear that up?  Please tell me that I haven’t been the only one skating through life not really understanding all this cousin terminology.  LOL