Language/Belarusian/Vocabulary/Family

Belarusian Vocabulary - Family

Hi Belarusian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Belarusian vocabulary related to family. Family is important in Belarusian culture, and knowing the words for family members will improve your communication skills and help you better understand Belarusian culture.

With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Education, Months of the Year, Traditional Dishes & Feelings and Emotions.

Family Members

Belarusian families are usually close-knit, and family members often live together or nearby. Let's learn the names for family members in Belarusian:

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English
бацька	bat͡sʲka	father
маці	mat͡si	mother
сын	syn	son
дачка	dačka	daughter
брат	brat	brother
сястра	sjastra	sister
бабуля	babula	grandmother
дзедуля	dziedula	grandfather
вонук	vanuk	grandson
вонуца	vanuca	granddaughter

Here are some examples of their usage in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Я іду наведацца да бацькі. (I'm going to visit my father.)
• Person 2: А маці яшчэ жыва? (Is your mother still alive?)

Extended Family

In Belarus, extended family members play an important role in the lives of individuals. The Belarusian names for extended family members are:

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English
татак	tatak	dad, daddy
мамуля	mamula	mom, mommy
сваёкр	svaokr	father-in-law
сваёр	svaor	brother-in-law
сваячка	svačka	sister-in-law
тэсць	tesc	mother-in-law
зять	zjat	son-in-law
нярэст	niarest	daughter-in-law
шурин	šurin	brother-in-law (married to the wife's sister)
швагер	šwager	brother-in-law (married to the husband's sister)

Here are some examples of their usage in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Сёстрына сваячка прыйшла ў гасці ўчора. (My sister-in-law came to visit yesterday.)
• Person 2: А ў вашай кветці малодшы брат жыве з сям'ёй? (Does your younger brother live with his family in your building?)

Adjectives to Describe Family Members

In Belarusian, there are adjectives to describe both immediate and extended family members. Let's learn these adjectives:

Belarusian	Pronunciation	English
старэйшы	starejšy	oldest
малодшы	malodšy	youngest
шчаслівы	ščaslіvy	happy
ўжо жанаты	užo žanaty	already married (for a man)
ўжо замужам	užo zamuzham	already married (for a woman)

Here are some examples of their usage in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Гэта мая сястра. Яна малодшая. (This is my sister. She is the youngest.)
• Person 2: Іван твой брат? (Is Ivan your brother?)
• Person 1: Так, ён мой старэйшы брат. (Yes, he is my oldest brother.)

Belarusian Holidays Celebrated with Family

In Belarus, family members come together to celebrate holidays. Here are some important holidays celebrated with family in Belarus:

• [| Christmas]: Celebrated on December 25 or January 7, this holiday is usually spent with family and gifts are exchanged.
• [| Kaliady]: Celebrated in the middle of winter and usually accompanied by caroling and traditional meals.
• [| Kupalle]: Celebrated on June 23 or 24, this holiday is accompanied by traditional songs, dances, and a large bonfire.

Here is an example of their usage in a dialogue:

• Person 1: Я люблю сядзець з роднымі на Калядах. (I love spending time with my family during Kaliady.)
• Person 2: Ты любіш хадзіць на маёўнічы пры святкуванні Купалле? (Do you like going to the bonfire during Kupalle?)

To improve your Belarusian Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Belarusian - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
• Belarusian language - Wikipedia

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Other Lessons

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• Climate and Weather
• Family Members
• Food Meals Dishes