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 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
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi |
|---|---|
| Father's father(grandfather) | दादा or बाबा |
| Father's mother(grandmother) | दादी |
| Mother's father(maternal grandfather) | नाना |
| Mother's mother(maternal grandmother) | नानी |
Parents
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi |
|---|---|
| Mother | माँ , माता , अम्मा |
| Father | पापा , पिता , बाबा , अप्पा |
Siblings, Cousins, and Siblings-in-Law
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi |
|---|---|
| Brother | भाई |
| Elder Brother | भैया, भइया, बड़ा भाई |
| Younger Brother | छोटा भाई |
| Sister | बहन, बेहेन, बहिन |
| Elder Sister | दीदी, बड़ी बेहेन, बड़ी बहन, बड़ी बहिन |
| Younger Sister | छोटी बेहेन, छोटी बहन, छोटी बहिन |
| Husband's sister | ननद |
| Father's sister | बुआ |
| Elder Sister's husband | जीजा |
| Younger Sister's husband | बहनोई |
| Husband's elder brother(brother-in-law) | जेठ |
| Husband's younger brother | देवर |
| Elder brother's wife | भाभी, भौजी, भौजाई |
| Younger brother's wife | भयो |
| Wife's Sister | साली |
| Wife's elder Brother | भाई साहब |
| Wife's younger Brother | साला |
| Wife's Brother's wife | सहलज |
| Husband's Sister's Husband | नन्दोई |
| Wife's sister's husband | साढ़ू or हमज़ुल्फ़ |
| Husband's elder brother's wife | जेठानी |
| Husband's younger brother's wife | देवरानी |
Note: There is no direct word for 'cousin' in Hindi, rather phrases like uncle's/aunt's son/daughter, are used to regard a cousin when there is a need to be specific, if not, then simply they are regarded as just brother/sister (भाईबहन).
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi |
|---|---|
| Father's brother's son (cousin) | (चचेरा) भाई |
| Father's brother's daughter (cousin) | (चचेरी) बहन |
| Father's sister's son (cousin) | (फुफेरा) भाई |
| Father's sister's daughter (cousin) | (फुफेरी) बहन |
| Mother's brother's son (cousin) | (ममेरा) भाई |
| Mother's brother's daughter (cousin) | (ममेरी) बहन |
| Mother's sister's son (cousin) | (मौसेरा) भाई |
| Mother's sister's daughter (cousin) | (मौसेरी) बहन |
Children and Children-in-Law
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi |
|---|---|
| Son | बेटा or पुत्र |
| Daughter | बेटी, पुत्री or जाई |
| Son's Wife | बहू |
| Daugther's Husband | दामाद or जमाई |
| Niece | भतीजी or भांजी |
| Nephew | भतीजा or भांजा |
Grandchildren
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi |
|---|---|
| Son's son (grandson) | पोता |
| Son's daughter (granddaughter) | पोती |
| Daughter's son (grandson) | नाती, नवासा or दोहता |
| Daugther's daughter (granddaughter) | नातिन, नवासी or दोहती |
Spouses and parents-in-law
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi |
|---|---|
| Husband | पति |
| Wife | पत्नी or बीवी |
| Spouses' Mother (Mother-in-law) | सास |
| Spouse's Father (Father-in-law)) | ससुर |
| Fiancé or Fiancée | मंगेतर |
Aunts and uncles
| Relation in English | Relation in Hindi | |
|---|---|---|
| Father's younger brother (uncle) | चाचा, काका or छोटे पापा | |
| Father's younger brother's wife (aunt) | चाची, काकी or छोटी मम्मी | |
| Father's elder brother's (Uncle) | ताया, ताऊ or बड़े पापा | |
| Father's elder brother's wife (Aunt) | Father's sister's husband | फूफा |
| Mother's brother | मामा or मामू | |
| Moth | Mother's younger sister | मौसी, मासी |
| Mother's younger sister's husband | मौसा | |
| Mother's elder sister's husband (Uncle) | ताया or ताऊ | |
| Mother's elder sister (Aunt) | ताई |
References
- 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