Chiricahua cousins are not distinguished from siblings through kinship terms. Thus, the same word will refer to either a sibling or a cousin (there are not separate terms for parallel-cousin and cross-cousin). Additionally, the terms are used according to the sex of the speaker (unlike the English terms "brother" and "sister"): "-kʼis" "same-sex sibling or same-sex cousin", "-´-ląh" "opposite-sex sibling or opposite-sex cousin". This means if one is a male, then one's brother is called "-kʼis" and one's sister is called "-´-ląh". If one is a female, then one's brother is called "-´-ląh" and one's sister is called "-kʼis". Chiricahuas in a "-´-ląh" relationship observed great restraint and respect toward that relative; cousins (but not siblings) in a "-´-ląh" relationship may practice total "avoidance".