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Hindi/Family Relations

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Network diagram of kinship terms

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.

Often the honorific suffix "-जी" ("-ji") is added to names to denote respect. The Desi (South Asian) Muslim community may sometimes add the prefix "मियां-" ("miyaan-"), to the relationship of which they have with that individual, do denote that the individual of whom they're describing or talking about is a Muslim. Muslims (and sometimes Zorastrian Parsis), add the honorific suffix "-जान" ("-jaan") to names to denote respect. It is very common to use when referring to or especially addressing an older relative, and sometimes for others depending on customs or the situation.

Parents

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Father बाप (bap), बापू (baapu), पिता (pita), पापा (papa), बाबा (baba), अप्पा (appa), अब्बू (abbu), अब्बा (abba), वालिद (valid), जनकः (janak'ha), तातः (taat'ha), पितृ (pitr'i)
Mother माँ (ma), माता (mata), मम्मा (mamma), अम्मां (amma), मम्मी (mammi), अम्मी (ammi), वालिदा (valida), बेबे (bebe), अम्बा (amba), जननी (janani), मातृ (maatr'i), मादर (maadr)

Grandparents

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Father's father (paternal grandfather) दादा (dada), बाबा (baba), आजा (aaja), पितामहा (pitamaha)
Father's mother (paternal grandmother) दादी (Dadi), बा (ba), आजी (aaji), आयी/आई (aayi), पितामही (pitamahi)
Mother's father (maternal grandfather) नाना (nana), मातामहा (maataamaha)
Mother's mother (maternal grandmother) नानी (nani), आयी/आई (aayi), मातामही (maataamahi)

Great-grandparents

In Hindi, the prefix "great-" is given by the prefix "पर-".

There is some ambiguity when talking about great-grandparents because, for example, the term "परदादा" (pardada) can refer to either your father's father's father or your father's mother's father.[1] Therefore, if there is a need to be more specific, spell out the exact family relation in full; e.g. "बाप के बाप के बाप" (bap ke bap ke bap), or "बाप की माँ के बाप" (bap ki ma ke bap).

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Paternal great-grandfather

(Father's parent's father)

परदादा (pardada), प्रपितामहा (prapitamaha), प्रमातमहा (pramaatmaha)
Paternal great-grandmother

(Father's parent's mother)

परदादी (pardadi), प्रपितामही (prapitamahi), प्रमातामही (pramaatmahi)
Paternal great-great-grandfather

(Father's grandfather)

लकड़दादा (lakkaRdada)
Paternal great-great-grandmother

(Father's grandmother)

लकड़दादी (lakkaRdadi)
Maternal great-grandfather

(Mother's parent's father)

परनाना (parnana)
Maternal great-grandmother

(Mother's parent's mother)

परनानी (parnani)
Maternal great-great-grandfather

(Mother's grandfather)

लकड़नाना (lakkaRnana)
Maternal great-great-grandmother

(Mother's grandmother)

लकड़नानी (lakkaRnani)

Siblings & Siblings-in-law

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Brother भाई (bhai), भाजी (bhaji), भाईजान (bhaijaan), भ्राता (braata), बरादार (baraadaar), सहोदरः (sahodar'ha)
Older brother बड़ा भाई (bada bhai), भैया (bhaiya), दादा (dada), दाउ (da'u), अग्रजः (agraj'ha)
Younger brother छोटा भाई (chhota bhai), अनुजः (anuj'ha)
Sister बहन (bahan), भेन/भेण (bhen), भगिनी (bhagini), सहोदरी (sahodari), बीबी (bibi)
Older sister बड़ी बहन (badi bahan), दीदी (didi), जीजी (jiji), आपा (aapaa), अग्रजा (agrajaa)
Younger sister छोटी बहन (chhoti bahan), अनुजा (anujaa)
Brother's* wife (sister-in-law) भाभी (bhabhi), भौजी (bhauji), भौजाई (bhaujai), भ्रातिजाया (bhraatijaaya)
Older sister's husband (brother-in-law) जीजा (jija), आवुत्तः (aavuttah'a)
Younger sister's husband (brother-in-law) बहनोई (bahanoi), आवुत्तः (aavutta'ha)
Husband's older brother (brother-in-law) जेठ (jeth), ज्येष्ठ (jyeshTh)
Husband's older brother's wife (co-sister-in-law) जेठानी (jethani), ज्येष्ठा (jyeshTha), याता (yaataa)
Husband's younger brother (brother-in-law) देवर (devar)
Husband's younger brother's wife (co-sister-in-law) देवरानी (devarani), याता (yaataa)
Husband's sister* (sister-in-law) ननद (nanad), ननान्दा (nananda)
Husband's sister's* husband (co-brother-in-law) नन्दोई (nandoi)
Wife's brother* (brother-in-law) साला** (sala), श्यालः (shyala'ha) पत्नी का भाई (patni ka bhai)
Wife's brother's* wife (co-sister-in-law) सलहज (salhaj)
Wife's sister* (sister-in-law) साली** (sali), श्याली (shyali), पत्नी की बहन (patni ki bahan)
Wife's sister's* husband (co-brother-in-law) साढ़ू (sarhu)
Child's spouse's father (co-father-in-law) समधी (samdhi), संबन्धिन् (sambandhin)
Child's spouse's mother (co-mother-in-law) समधिन (samdhin)

**These two words ("साला" (sala) & "साली" (sali)) are also commonly used as pejoratives, so be careful when using them.

Cousins

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

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Father's older brother's son (ताएरा) भाई (taera) bhai, (तायाज़ाद) भाई (tayazaad) bhai
Father's older brother's daughter (ताएरी) बहन (taeri) bahan, (तायाज़ाद) बहन (tayazaad) bahan
Father's younger brother's son (चचेरा) भाई (chachera) bhai, (चचाज़ाद) भाई (chachazaad) bhaai
Father's younger brother's daughter (चचेरी) बहन (chacheri) bahan, (चचाज़ाद) बहन (chachazaad) bahan
Father's sister's* son (फुफेरा) भाई (phuphera) bhai, (फूफोज़ाद) भाई (phuphozaad) bhai
Father's sister's* daughter (फुफेरी) बहन (phupheri) bahan, (फूफोज़ाद) बहन (phuphozaad) bahan
Mother's brother's* son (ममेरा) भाई (mamera) bhai, (मामूज़ाद) भाई (mamuzaad) bhai
Mother's brother's* daughter (ममेरी) बहन (mameri) bahan, (मामूज़ाद) बहन (mamuzaad) bahan
Mother's sister's* son (मौसेरा) भाई (mausera) bhai, (मासेरा) भाई (masera) bhai, (ख़लेरा) भाई (KHalera) bhai, (ख़ालाज़ाद) भाई (KHalazaad) bhai
Mother's sister's* daughter (मौसेरी) बहन (mauseri) bahan, (मासेरी) बहन (maseri) bahan, (ख़लेरी) बहन (KHaleri) bahan, (ख़ालाज़ाद) बहन (KHalazaad) bahan

Children & Children-in-law

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Son बेटा (beta), पुत्र (putr), सूनुः (soonu'hu), सुत (sut), तनयः (tanay)
Daughter बेटी (beti), पुत्री (putri), जाई (jai), तनया (tanayaa), सूनू (soonoo)
Son's wife (daughter-in-law) बहू (bahu), पुत्रवधू (putravadhu), पतोहू (patohu), स्नुषा (snusha), वधू (vadhu)
Daughter's husband (son-in-law) दामाद (damad), जमाई (jamai), जामाता (jaamaata), जामातृ (jaamaatr'i)
Brother's son (nephew) भतीजा (bhatija), भ्रातृव्यः (bhraatrivya'ha), भ्रातृपुत्रः (bhraatriputra)
Brother's daughter (niece) भतीजी (bhatiji), भ्रातृव्या (bhraatrivyaa), भ्रातृजा (bhraatrijaa)
Sister's son (nephew) भांजा (bhanja), भागिनेयः (bhaaginey'ha)
Sister's daughter (niece) भांजी (bhanji), भागिनेया (bhaagineyaa)

Grandchildren

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Son's son (grandson) पोता (pota), पौत्रः (pautra'ha)
Son's daughter (granddaughter) पोती (poti), पौत्री (pautri)
Daughter's son (grandson) नाती (nati), नवासा (navasa), दोहता (dohata), दौहित्रः (dauhitra'ha)
Daughter's daughter (granddaughter) नातिन (natin), नवासी (navasi), दोहती (dohati), दौहित्री (dauhitri)

Spouses & Parents-in-law

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Husband पति (pati), शोहर (shohar), ख़ावन्द (KHaavand)/ख़ाविन्द (KHaavind), भर्ता (bhartaa), परिणेता (pariNeta), कान्तः (kaant'ha), भर्तृ (bhartr'i)
Wife पत्नी (patni), बीवी (bivi), बैग़म (baighum), भार्या (bhaarya), अर्धाङ्गिणी (ardhaangiNi), जाया (jaaya), जोरू (joru), दाराः (daara'ha), सहचारिणी (sehchaariNi), बायड़ी (baayRi), बायको (baayko), तीवीं (teevee'n), वहुटी (vauTi), कलत्रम् (kalatram)
Spouse's father (father-in-law) ससुर (sasur), श्वशुरः (shvashur'ha)
Spouse's mother (mother-in-law) सास (sas), श्वश्रूः (shvashru'hu)
Fiancé(e) मँगेतर (mangetar)

Aunts & Uncles

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Father's older brother (uncle) ताया (taya), ताऊ (tau), बड़े पापा (bade papa), बर्का अब्बा/अब्बू (barka abba/abbu), ताततुल्य (taattulya)
Father's older brother's wife (aunt) ताई (tai), पितृव्यपत्नी (pitrivyapatni)
Father's younger brother (uncle) चाचा (chacha), काका (kaka), छोटे पापा (chhote papa), पितृव्यः (pitrivya'ha)
Father's younger brother's wife (aunt) चाची (chachi), काकी (kaki), छोटी मम्मी (chhoti mammi), पितृव्या (pitrivyaa)
Father's sister* (aunt) बुआ (bua), भुआ (bhua), फूफी (phuphi), पितृभगिनी (pitribhagini), पितृष्वसा (pitrishvasa), फ़ोई (foi)
Father's sister's* husband (uncle) फूफा (phupha), फूफो (phupho), फ़ूफ़ड़ (fufaR)
Mother's brother* (uncle) मामा (mama), मामू (mamu), मातुलः (maatul'ha)
Mother's brother's* wife (aunt) मामी (mami), मुमानी (mumani), मातुलानी (maatulaani), मातुला (maatula)
Mother's sister* (aunt) मौसी (mausi), मासी (masi), ख़ाला (KHala), मातृभगिनी (maatribhagini), मातृष्वसा (maatrishvasaa)
Mother's sister's* husband (uncle) मौसा (mausa), मासा (masa), मासड़ (masaR), ख़ालू (KHalu)

Stepfamily

In Hindi, the prefix "step-" (or "half-") is given by the adjective "सौतेला".

Relation in English Relation in Hindi
Stepfather सौतेले बाप (sautele bap)
Stepmother सौतेली माँ (sauteli ma), विमाता (vimaata)
Stepbrother सौतेला भाई (sautela bhai), विमातृज (vimaatrij)
Stepsister सौतेली बहन (sauteli bahan)

Notes

*If a particular sibling's name is followed by an asterisk, then it does not matter whether they are older or younger; the Hindi term remains the same.

References

  1. https://history.sd.gov/archives/docs/FamilyTree.pdf

Further Reading

  • McGregor, R.S, 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