EkGuru › Materials › Family › Family Words Quick Reference
Hindi family vocabulary encodes information English collapses — which side of the family, and older or younger. This table is the fastest way to learn the words you will actually need with relatives, and to see the logic behind them.
| Relation | Hindi | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mother | माँ mā̃ (or माता mātā, formal) | the word you will use daily |
| father | पिता pitā (or पापा pāpā, informal) | pitā is formal, pāpā affectionate |
| brother (older) | बड़ा भाई baṛā bhāī | older brother — order matters in Hindi |
| brother (younger) | छोटा भाई chhoṭā bhāī | younger brother |
| sister (older) | बड़ी बहन baṛī bahan | older sister |
| sister (younger) | छोटी बहन chhoṭī bahan | younger sister |
| father's brother | चाचा chāchā | younger than your father |
| mother's brother | मामा māmā | a different word — side of family matters |
| grandfather (father's) | दादा dādā | paternal grandfather |
| grandmother (mother's) | नानी nānī | maternal grandmother |
English has one word, 'cousin'. Hindi marks which parent the cousin comes through and often the gender and age — चचेरा भाई (father's brother's son) is not ममेरा भाई (mother's brother's son). The family tree in Hindi carries information the English tree leaves out.
You address elders with the respectful forms — दादा जी, चाचा जी, adding जी (jī) as a mark of respect — and you refer to them with aap, never tum or tu. The grammar and the family vocabulary run on the same respect system.
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Using one word for all uncles | Learn chāchā vs māmā | The father's side and mother's side use different words. |
| Forgetting older/younger for siblings | baṛā/baṛī = older, chhoṭā/chhoṭī = younger | Age order is part of the word, not an extra adjective. |
| Using tum with elders | Use aap and add jī | Family elders get the polite forms. |
चाचा is your father's brother; मामा is your mother's brother — Hindi marks the side of the family.
बड़ा भाई (baṛā bhāī).
Because it marks which parent the cousin comes through, plus gender and often age — information English collapses into one word.
A chart helps only once you use it. Drill these same points in the practice labs, follow a learning path to keep the order right, or practise one to one with a native-speaking tutor.