Family Words in Marathi and the Maternal-Paternal Divide

Marathi family terms are precise, and many distinguish the father's side from the mother's side.

Immediate family

English	Marathi	Roman
mother	आई	āī
father	वडील, बाबा	vaḍīl, bābā
brother	भाऊ	bhāū
sister	बहीण	bahīṇ
son	मुलगा	mulgā
daughter	मुलगी	mulgī
husband	नवरा	navrā
wife	बायको	bāyko
child	मूल	mūl

Grandparents

English	Marathi
grandmother	आजी
grandfather	आजोबा

Uncles and aunts

English	Marathi
father's brother	काका
father's brother's wife	काकू
father's sister	आत्या
mother's brother	मामा
mother's brother's wife	मामी
mother's sister	मावशी

In-laws

English	Marathi
mother-in-law	सासू
father-in-law	सासरे
daughter-in-law	सून
son-in-law	जावई

Using them

• ही माझी आई आहे. — This is my mother.
• मला एक भाऊ आणि एक बहीण आहे. — I have a brother and a sister.
• आजी गावात राहतात. — Grandmother lives in the village.
• माझे मामा मुंबईत राहतात. — My maternal uncle lives in Mumbai.

Respectful address

Family words are also used for people outside the family:

• ताई — older sister, or a respectful way to address a woman
• दादा — older brother, or a respectful way to address a man
• काका / काकू — for an older man or woman

Tips

1. Learn the paternal-maternal pairs.
2. Use ताई and दादा politely.
3. Use the dictionary to check terms.

Look up any word with English Marathi Dictionary →