Learn Punjabi Punjabi Kinship Terms Who Are Your Relatives?

[Tejwant Singh]

Sokunn- A Second Wife.

Actually, they are not Punjabi Kinship Terms for the Relatives but a bigoted hierarchical ladder where each relative demands respect as per his/her kinship and the ones on the lower level of this ladder are left to curse their status.

 

[Ishna]

Sokunn- A Second Wife.

Actually, they are not Punjabi Kinship Terms for the Relatives but a bigoted hierarchical ladder where each relative demands respect as per his/her kinship and the ones on the lower level of this ladder are left to curse their status.

Hi Tejwant

Is there really a hierarchy in the Punjabi kinship terms? I thought it was just an elaborate (and often useful) classification system. You can pinpoint exactly who you're talking about. When I say "my aunt" in English, it needs a whole lot more discussion before we can pinpoint who I mean exactly.

Thanks

 

[Tejwant Singh]

Hi Tejwant

Is there really a hierarchy in the Punjabi kinship terms? I thought it was just an elaborate (and often useful) classification system. You can pinpoint exactly who you're talking about. When I say "my aunt" in English, it needs a whole lot more discussion before we can pinpoint who I mean exactly.

Thanks

Ishna,

Guru Fateh.

YES!! And a quite insulting kind. It is the worst class system ever existed.
For example, if one is the groom's little brother, the bride would call him Devur which culturally means he can joke around with the bhabi-sister in law.
The groom's older brother, who is called Jeth has to be respected by the bride. Even some families demand her to touch his feet every morning. And no hide n seek with the Bhabi a la Devur.
Auntie ji in Punjabi culture is just the run of the mill female. But in the Kinship ladder, depends on the Aunt's kinship which bestows the relative title on her for respect or as a demeaning joke
Sala- Wife's brother is the butt of jokes in the Indian culture including Punjabi. Sala is a curse word too in everyday lexicon.

Ishna and the most insulting thing I find in this Kinship business is the role of women in the culture. The daughter in law is supposed to touch her in-laws' feet, her jeth, his wife. However, the daughter cannot do the same to her dad, her older brothers etc.
And so on.

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

My mum says that there is also Chachera praa, chacheri pain etc.

...yes these related to Chacha's sons/daughters....and common..BUT what we call TAIYA's sons/daughters ? Tatera bhraa bhen are not so common. People more commonly refer to Chahceh Taiyeh ...

 

[chipawawa]

Who would my mom's dad's sister be to me? Nani bhua?

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

You can call her Nani Bhua or even vaddi Bhua ji as sometimes Dadi is called Vadi Bebe.

 

[K Singh79]

A list complied by a 103 year old woman.

The pronunciation of "th" can be a problem. So it is pronounced like the "th" in the word "thought" only a little more softly - maybe even more like "t" with a lisp. Press your tongue behind your 2 front teeth when you say "th" :yes:

Matha: Mom (Gyani ji is correcting to say, Mata and not Matha)​

​

Pitha: Dad (Also, here Pita instead of Pitha)​

Bhein: Sister​

Praa: Brother​

Patheeji: Niece​

Patheeja: Nephew​

Panji: Spouse's Niece​

Panja: Spouse's Nephew​

​

Chacha: Dad's Younger Brother​

Chachi: Dad's Younger Brother's Wife​

Thaya: Dad's Older Brother​

Thaiyee: Dad's Older Brother's Wife​

Bhua: Dad's Sister​

Fufarrd: Dad's Sister​

Mama: Mom's Brother​

Mami: Mom's Brother's Wife​

Masi: Mom's Sister​

Masar: Mom's Sister's Wife​

Nana: Mom's Dad​

Nani: Mom's Mom​

Pothi: Son's Daughter​

Potha: Son's Son​

Dhothi: Daughter's Daughter​

Dhotha: Daughter's Son​

​

Inlaws:​

Jeth: Husband's Older Brother​

Jatani: Husband's Older Brother's Wife​

Deor: Husband's Younger Brother​

Darani: Husband's Younger Brother's Wife​

Sala: Wife's Brother​

Salehar: Wife's Brother's Wife​

Sali: Wife's Sister​

Sandhu: Wife's Sister's Husband (pronunciation hint here - the a is drawn out to AAH)​

Jeeja: Sister's Husband​

Bhabi: Brother's Wife​

Naran: Husband's Sister​

Narandoyia: Husband's Sister's Husband​

Kordum: Son or Daughter In Laws Father​

Kordmuni: Son or Daughter In Laws Mother​

Pathees: Spouse's Thaiyee or Chachi​

Pathiyora: Spouse's Thayaa or Chacha​

Mamees: Spouse's Mami​

Malyora: Spouse's Mama​

Fufees: Spouse's Bhua​

Fufyora: Spouse's Fufarrd​

Nanees: Spouse's Nani​

Nanyora: Spouse's Nana​

Dadhees: Spouse's Dadhi​

Dadhiyora: Spouse's Dadha​

You don't use the same terms for your sisters children as your brothers.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Punjabi Kinship terms

Pita, Bapu: Father
Bebe/ma: Mother
Bhein: Sister
Bhraa: Brother
Bhateeji: Niece
Bhateeja: Nephew
Bhanji: Sister’s daughter
Bhanja: Sister’s son
Chacha: Dad's Younger Brother
Chachi: Dad's Younger Brother's Wife
Taya: Dad's elder Brother
Taiyee: Dad's elder Brother's Wife
Bhua: Dad's Sister
Fufad: Dad's Sister’s husbad
Mama: Mom's Brother
Mami: Mom's Brother's Wife
Masi: Mom's Sister
Masad: Mom's Sister's husband
Nana: Mom's Dad
Nani: Mom's Mom
Poti: Son's Daughter
Pota: Son's Son
Dohti: Daughter's Daughter
Dohta: Daughter's Son

Inlaws:
Jeth: Husband's elder Brother
Jathani: Husband's elder Brother's Wife
Dior: Husband's Younger Brother
Darani: Husband's Younger Brother's Wife
Sala: Wife's Brother
Salehar: Wife's Brother's Wife
Sali: Wife's Sister
Sadhu: Wife's Sister's Husband
Jeeja: Sister's Husband
Bhabi: Brother's Wife
Nanad: Husband's Sister
Nandoia: Husband's Sister's Husband
Kudum: Son or Daughter In Laws’ Father
Kudmani: Son or Daughter In Laws’ Mother
Pateehas: Spouse's Tai or Chachi
Patiora: Spouse's Taya or Chacha
Mamehas- spouse’s mami
Mamiora- spouse’s mama
Phaphehas- spouse’s Bhua
Phaphiora- spouse’s fufad
Nanehas- spouse’s nani
Naniora -spouse’s nana
Dadehas- spouse’s dadi
Dadiora- spouse’s dada