Family Words in Punjabi and the Paternal-Maternal Distinction
Punjabi family vocabulary, including the separate words for relatives on the father's and mother's sides.
Punjabi family vocabulary is precise. Many relatives have separate names depending on whether they are on the father's or the mother's side.
Immediate family
| English | Punjabi | Roman |
|---|---|---|
| mother | ਮਾਂ | māṁ |
| father | ਪਿਤਾ / ਬਾਪੂ / ਪਿਓ | pitā / bāpū / pio |
| brother | ਭਰਾ / ਵੀਰ | bharā / vīr |
| sister | ਭੈਣ | bhaiṇ |
| son | ਪੁੱਤਰ / ਪੁੱਤ | puttar / putt |
| daughter | ਧੀ | dhī |
| husband | ਪਤੀ | patī |
| wife | ਪਤਨੀ | patnī |
| child | ਬੱਚਾ | bachchā |
Grandparents
| English | Punjabi |
|---|---|
| paternal grandfather | ਦਾਦਾ |
| paternal grandmother | ਦਾਦੀ |
| maternal grandfather | ਨਾਨਾ |
| maternal grandmother | ਨਾਨੀ |
Uncles and aunts
| English | Punjabi |
|---|---|
| father's elder brother | ਤਾਇਆ |
| father's younger brother | ਚਾਚਾ |
| father's sister | ਭੂਆ |
| mother's brother | ਮਾਮਾ |
| mother's sister | ਮਾਸੀ |
In-laws
| English | Punjabi |
|---|---|
| mother-in-law | ਸੱਸ |
| father-in-law | ਸਹੁਰਾ |
| daughter-in-law | ਨੂੰਹ |
| son-in-law | ਜਵਾਈ |
Using them
- ਇਹ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਂ ਹੈ। — This is my mother.
- ਮੇਰੇ ਦੋ ਭਰਾ ਅਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਭੈਣ ਹੈ। — I have two brothers and a sister.
- ਮੇਰੇ ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। — My grandfather lives in the village.
Respectful address
Family words are also used for people outside the family:
- ਵੀਰ ਜੀ / ਭਾਜੀ — older brother, or a respectful way to address a man
- ਭੈਣ ਜੀ — older sister, or a respectful way to address a woman
- ਅੰਕਲ / ਆਂਟੀ — used for older men and women, borrowed from English
Adding ਜੀ shows respect: ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ, ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ, ਪਿਤਾ ਜੀ.
Tips
- Learn the paternal-maternal pairs.
- Add ਜੀ for respect.
- Use the dictionary to check terms.
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