Family Words in Telugu

Telugu family vocabulary is specific, with different words for older and younger siblings.

Close family

Telugu	Romanised	Meaning
అమ్మ	amma	mother
నాన్న	naanna	father
అన్న	anna	older brother
అక్క	akka	older sister
తమ్ముడు	thammudu	younger brother
చెల్లెలు	chellelu	younger sister
కొడుకు	koduku	son
కూతురు	koothuru	daughter

Grandparents and wider family

Telugu	Meaning
తాత	grandfather
అమ్మమ్మ	maternal grandmother
నాన్నమ్మ	paternal grandmother
మామ	maternal uncle
అత్త	paternal aunt
పిన్ని	mother's younger sister
పెద్దమ్మ	mother's older sister
బాబాయి	father's younger brother

Marriage

• భర్త (bhartha), husband
• భార్య (bhaarya), wife
• పెళ్లి (pelli), wedding

Talking about family

• మా కుటుంబం పెద్దది. Our family is big.
• నాకు ఒక అక్క ఉంది. I have an older sister.
• మా అమ్మ టీచర్. My mother is a teacher.

Using kin terms with others

Telugu speakers often use family words for people who are not relatives, as a sign of warmth and respect:

• అన్నయ్య (annayya) for an older man
• అక్క for an older woman
• అంకుల్ and ఆంటీ are also widely used

Tips

1. Learn the older and younger distinction.
2. Learn the two grandmother words.
3. Use the dictionary to check relationship terms.

Look up any Telugu word with English Telugu Dictionary →