What Is a Second Cousin?

A second cousin is a relative who shares the same great-grandparents as you, but not the same grandparents. In other words, second cousins are the children of your parents' first cousins.

How cousin "numbers" work: The number tells you how many generations back you share a common ancestor.

• First cousins share grandparents (your parent's sibling's kids).
• Second cousins share great-grandparents.
• Third cousins share great-great-grandparents, and so on.

What "removed" means: "Removed" refers to a difference in generation between you and the cousin.

• "Once removed" = one generation apart. For example, your first cousin once removed is your first cousin's child (or your parent's first cousin).
• "Twice removed" = two generations apart.

So "second cousin" (no "removed") means you're in the same generation and share great-grandparents.

Quick example:

• You and your sibling share parents.
• You and your first cousin share grandparents.
• You and your second cousin share great-grandparents — your grandparents were siblings.

In short: your second cousins are the grandchildren of your grandparents' siblings — you're the same generation, connected two levels up at the great-grandparent.