Family Relations (रिश्ते-नाते)

Hindi has very specific words for family relationships — often distinguishing the mother’s side from the father’s side, something English doesn’t do.

Immediate family

English	Hindi	Roman
Father	पिता / पापा	pita / papa
Mother	माता / मां	mata / maa
Brother	भाई	bhai
Sister	बहन	bahan
Son	बेटा	beta
Daughter	बेटी	beti
Husband	पति	pati
Wife	पत्नी	patni

English	Hindi	Roman
Paternal grandfather	दादा	dada
Paternal grandmother	दादी	dadi
Maternal grandfather	नाना	nana
Maternal grandmother	नानी	nani
Grandson (son’s son)	पोता	pota
Granddaughter (son’s daughter)	पोती	poti

English	Hindi	Roman
Father’s younger brother	चाचा	chacha
Father’s older brother	ताऊ	tau
Chacha’s wife	चाची	chachi
Tau’s wife	ताई	tai
Father’s sister	बुआ	bua
Bua’s husband	फूफा	foofa

English	Hindi	Roman
Mother’s brother	मामा	mama
Mama’s wife	मामी	mami
Mother’s sister	मौसी	mausi
Mausi’s husband	मौसा	mausa

English	Hindi	Roman
Father-in-law	ससुर	sasur
Mother-in-law	सास	saas
Brother-in-law (wife’s brother)	साला	saala
Sister-in-law (wife’s sister)	साली	saali
Husband’s younger brother	देवर	devar
Husband’s older brother	जेठ	jeth
Husband’s sister	ननद	nanad
Brother’s wife	भाभी	bhabhi
Sister’s husband	जीजा	jija

यह मेरे दादा जी हैं। (yah mere dada ji hain.) — This is my grandfather.
मेरी दो बहनें और एक भाई है। (meri do bahnein aur ek bhai hai.) — I have two sisters and one brother.

Note: adding जी (ji) after a name or relation (दादा जी, मामा जी) is a common way to show respect in Hindi.