I Was Today Years Old When This Teacher Finally Explained What A ‘1st Cousin, Once Removed’ Is

Having a big family can start to get confusing, especially when you try to break down all your second cousins, first cousins once removed, and all that stuff. To be honest, I’m sure most of us don’t even know what those terms really mean.

In fact, what does first cousin once removed mean in the first place?

I’m pretty confident in saying that most of us don’t know. But luckily, we’re all about to learn a lesson.

In a series of TikToks, Kevin Silberman breaks it down.

Image credit: Giphy | Harlem — Giphy | Harlem

In the first TikTok, Silberman explains that the “removed” part in “first cousin once removed” means you’re one generation apart.

So your parent’s first cousin would be your first cousin once removed.

Image credit: Giphy | Broad City — Giphy | Broad City

Because, while your parent and their cousin are in the same generation, you’re one generation “removed” from that cousin. Mind. Blown.

So then what about a second cousin?

Don’t worry, because Silberman has a TikTok explaining that, too (and marriage laws surrounding cousins, because the people wanted to know!).

He breaks it down in a really easy way.

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You and your first cousin share a set of grandparents, right? So, as Silberman explains, your second cousin will share a set of great-grandparents with you, and your third cousin will share a set of great-great-grandparents.

And for the curious minds, most states allow marriage between second cousins and beyond (which is weird to think about).

So how does that differ from a cousin once or twice removed?

Thanks to Silberman’s explanations, it’s clear that a second cousin is in your same generation, while a cousin removed however many times is in a different generation.

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And no, the “removed” part has nothing to do with divorce.

Image credit: Unsplash | Kelly Sikkema — Unsplash | Kelly Sikkema

I think a lot of people assume that a cousin once or twice removed is a cousin that used to be related to you, but thanks to divorce is no longer part of your family.

But that’s untrue.

In a third TikTok, Silberman explains that because “removed” means “apart by a generation, the child of your first cousin would be your first cousin once removed.

Likewise, the grandchild of your first cousin would be your first cousin twice removed, because you’re two generations apart.