The term 'Mandolins' Cousins' refers to the stringed instrument known as the lute, which has five letters. The lute is a plucked string instrument that has been around since the Middle Ages and is still used today in many different styles of music. It is related to the mandolin, as both instruments have a similar shape and are played with a pick. The lute has a long neck and a round body, and its strings are usually made of gut or nylon. The sound of the lute is mellow and sweet, and it is often used in classical, folk, and world music.