When somebody is talking about a relative and they discribe them as:
"my cousin bob *twice removed* blah blah blah..."
What does "twice removed" or however many times REMOVED mean?
2007-11-01 18:43:18 · 6 answers · asked by Lauren J 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
When the word "removed" is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents), so the word "removed" is not used to describe your relationship.
The words "once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. This is because your mother's first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals "once removed."
Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother's first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.
Guess we both looked up the same site at almost exactly the same time. I copied and pasted what was on that site as the explanation is very good and probably written better than I could have explained it. At least both of us credited the source. HMMM - I don't understand the thumbs down. Oh well.....................
2007-11-01 18:47:33 · answer #1 · answered by pamreid 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Your first cousins share the same grandparents. Your second cousins have the same great-grandparents as you, but not the same grandparents. Like, your grandparent's sibling's kids. Third cousins share the same great-great grandparents...and it keeps going like that.
A cousin removed just means you're from different generations. Your parents cousins are your first cousins once removed. Each generation is another "removal."
2007-11-02 01:52:19 · answer #2 · answered by Kari 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When the word "removed" is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents), so the word "removed" is not used to describe your relationship.
The words "once removed" mean that there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother's first cousin is your first cousin, once removed. This is because your mother's first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals "once removed."
Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother's first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.
2007-11-02 01:46:45 · answer #3 · answered by shizuku.tonderui 1 · 6⤊ 0⤋
On the verge of being "removed" myself, I have lived a life in awareness of the expression and unawareness of its meaning. Thanks to you and your respondents for clearing it up.
2007-11-02 01:54:27 · answer #4 · answered by picador 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WOW...I'll never look at my cousins in the same way again! I'm STILL confused.
Cheers !!!
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2007-11-02 02:05:27 · answer #5 · answered by Ethio In Ethio AND PROUD ! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WOW!! Two people had the exact same explanation!! Isn't that freaky!!!
2007-11-02 01:50:09 · answer #6 · answered by KingTriage 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋