هذا ابن عمي

You use it just like you would introduce a brother. The word ده is the Egyptian way of saying 'this' for a male. If you are in a group and someone looks at your companion with a questioning look, you simply point and say ده ابن عمي. It immediately explains why you are together and what his status is. You can also use it to explain a connection when telling a story. For example, 'I was walking with ابن عمي yesterday.' It’s simple, effective, and carries a lot of social weight.

Use this in almost any social setting. If you are at a wedding and your cousin is standing next to you, use it. If you are at a cafe and a friend walks by, introduce him this way. It works perfectly in professional settings too if you happen to work with family. It’s also common in texting when someone asks who you are with. It’s a versatile phrase that fits anywhere from a fancy dinner to a casual street food stall. It’s the ultimate 'he’s with me' card.

Do not use this for your mother’s side of the family! That would be ابن خالي. Using the wrong one might confuse people about your family tree. Also, never use it for a female cousin; for her, you would say دي بنت عمي. Avoid using it for distant relatives who aren't actually your first cousins unless you want to emphasize a very close bond. If you are in a very formal, classical Arabic setting (like a news broadcast), you would use هذا instead of ده.

In traditional Arab culture, the paternal uncle (العم) is a figure of great authority and respect, often seen as a second father. Consequently, his son (ابن العم) is like a brother. Historically, tribes were built on these paternal lines. Even in modern cities like Cairo or Beirut, the 'ibn 'amm' is the person you call when you need help moving furniture or if you get into a car accident. There is an old proverb that says 'My brother and I against my cousin, but my cousin and I against the stranger.' It shows the hierarchy of loyalty.

If you are talking about your mother's brother's son, say ده ابن خالي. If it's your father's sister's son, it's ده ابن عمتي. For your mother's sister's son, use ده ابن خالتي. In more formal Arabic (MSA), you would say هذا ابن عمي. In Levantine dialects (like Lebanese or Syrian), you might hear هيدا ابن عمي. The structure stays the same, but the 'this' part changes based on where you are standing in the Arab world.