Hindi/Family relations

Family relation names in Hindi are very specific to the speaker. For example, your father's brother and your mother's brother are not both just "uncle"; you would differentiate and address them using specific terms to indicate the precise relationship. These terms can vary a bit from place to place. The following are some standard examples.

Network diagram of kinship terms

Often the honorific suffix "-जी" is added to names to denote respect. It is very common to use when referring to or especially addressing an elder, and sometimes for others depending on customs or the situation.

The transliteration is in ITRANS form, which allows for exact mapping of Devanagari characters to the Roman script.

Grandparents & Great-grandparentsEdit

For great-grandparents, the prefix "पर-" is added to the following words:

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Father's father (paternal grandfather) दादा, बाबा
Father's mother (paternal grandmother) दादी
Mother's father (maternal grandfather) नाना
Mother's mother (maternal grandmother) नानी

ParentsEdit

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Mother माँ, माता, मम्मा, अम्मा, मम्मी, अम्मी
Father पापा, पिता, बाप, बाबा, अप्पा, अब्बू

Siblings & Siblings-in-lawEdit

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Brother भाई
Elder brother भइया, भैया, बड़ा भाई
Younger brother छोटा भाई
Sister बहन, बेहेन, बहिन
Elder sister दीदी, बड़ी बहन
Younger sister छोटी बहन
Elder brother's wife (sister-in-law) भाभी, भौजी, भौजाई
Younger brother's wife (sister-in-law) भयो, भायाऊ[citation needed]
Elder sister's husband (brother-in-law) जीजा
Younger sister's husband (brother-in-law) बहनोई
Husband's elder brother (brother-in-law) जेठ
Husband's elder brother's wife (co-sister-in-law) जेठानी
Husband's younger brother (brother-in-law) देवर
Husband's younger brother's wife (co-sister-in-law) देवरानी
Husband's elder/younger sister (sister-in-law) ननद
Husband's elder/younger sister's husband (co-brother-in-law) नन्दोई
Wife's elder/younger brother (brother-in-law) साला
Wife's elder/younger brother's wife (co-sister-in-law) सलहज
Wife's elder/younger sister (sister-in-law) साली
Wife's elder/younger sister's husband (co-brother-in-law) साढ़ू
Child's spouse's father (co-father-in-law) समधी
Child's spouse's mother (co-mother-in-law) समधिन

CousinsEdit

There is no direct word for "cousin" in Hindi; rather phrases like "uncle's/aunt's son/daughter" are used to refer to a cousin when there is a need to be specific. However, in general, they are simply referred to as "brother/sister" ("भाई/बहन").

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Father's elder brother's son (ताएरा) भाई
Father's elder brother's daughter (ताएरी) बहन
Father's younger brother's son (चचेरा) भाई
Father's younger brother's daughter (चचेरी) बहन
Father's elder/younger sister's son (फुफेरा) भाई
Father's elder/younger sister's daughter (फुफेरी) बहन
Mother's elder/younger brother's son (ममेरा) भाई
Mother's elder/younger brother's daughter (ममेरी) बहन
Mother's elder/younger sister's son (मौसेरा) भाई
Mother's elder/younger sister's daughter (मौसेरी) बहन

Children & Children-in-lawEdit

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Son बेटा, पुत्र
Daughter बेटी, पुत्री, जाई
Son's wife (daughter-in-law) बहू
Daughter's husband (son-in-law) दामाद, जमाई
Brother's son (nephew) भतीजा
Brother's daughter (niece) भतीजी
Sister's son (nephew) भांजा
Sister's daughter (niece) भांजी

GrandchildrenEdit

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Son's son (grandson) पोता
Son's daughter (granddaughter) पोती
Daughter's son (grandson) नाती, नवासा, दोहता
Daughter's daughter (granddaughter) नातिन, नवासी, दोहती

Spouses & Parents-in-lawEdit

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Husband पति
Wife पत्नी, बीवी
Spouse's mother (mother-in-law) सास
Spouse's father (father-in-law) ससुर
Fiancé(e) मँगेतर

Aunts & UnclesEdit

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Father's elder brother (uncle) ताया, ताऊ, बड़े पापा
Father's elder brother's wife (aunt) ताई
Father's younger brother (uncle) चाचा, काका, छोटे पापा
Father's younger brother's wife (aunt) चाची, काकी, छोटी मम्मी
Father's elder/younger sister (aunt) बुआ, फूफी
Father's elder/younger sister's husband (uncle) फूफा
Mother's elder/younger brother (uncle) मामा, मामू
Mother's elder/younger brother's wife (aunt) मामी
Mother's elder/younger sister (aunt) मौसी
Mother's elder/younger sister's husband (uncle) मौसा

StepfamilyEdit

In Hindi, the prefix "step-" (or "half-") is given by the word "सौतेला/सौतेली/सौतेले".

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Stepfather सौतेले पिता
Stepmother सौतेली माँ
Stepbrother सौतेला भाई
Stepsister सौतेली बहन

ReferencesEdit

  • McGregor, R.S, ed. The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary, Oxford university press. 1993
  • Snell, Rupert Teach yourself Hindi: A complete guide for beginners. Lincolnwood, IL: NTC Publishing Group, 1992. ISBN 0-8442-3863-5