Language/Sanskrit/Vocabulary/Family

Family Relations in Sanskrit compared to Hindi, English, Bengali & Tamil

Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and English are all distinct languages with their own unique features and cultural nuances. While there may be similarities in the way these languages express family relations, there are also significant differences.

• In Sanskrit, family relations are typically expressed through a system of kinship terms that are based on gender and generation. For example, "father" is expressed as "pitā," "mother" as "mātā," "brother" as "bhrātā," and "sister" as "svasrā."

• Hindi, which is derived from Sanskrit, also uses a similar system of kinship terms. However, there are some differences in the way certain relationships are expressed. For example, in Hindi, "grandfather" is expressed as "dādā" or "nānā," while in Sanskrit, it is expressed as "pitāmaha."

• Bengali, another language that is related to Sanskrit, has a similar system of kinship terms to Hindi. However, there are also some differences in the way certain relationships are expressed. For example, in Bengali, "grandfather" is expressed as "dadu" or "thākuma," while in Hindi, it is expressed as "dādā" or "nānā."

• Tamil, which is a Dravidian language, has a unique system of kinship terms that is different from Sanskrit and its derived languages. In Tamil, kinship terms are based on age and gender. For example, "father" is expressed as "appa" or "tandai," while "mother" is expressed as "amma" or "tāyi."

• English, which is an Indo-European language, has a relatively simple system of kinship terms compared to the other languages mentioned. Family relations are typically expressed through basic terms such as "father," "mother," "brother," and "sister," without the use of prefixes or suffixes to indicate gender or generation.

While there may be similarities in the way family relations are expressed across these languages, there are also significant differences. Each language has its own unique cultural and linguistic features that shape the way family relationships are expressed and understood.

Here is a table comparing family relations in Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and English:

Sanskrit	Hindi	English	Relation	Bengali	Tamil
माता mata / जननी janani	sadiya (mātā) / माँ (māṅ)/मम्मी	mother/ mummy/ mom	female parent	ma মা [ma] mata মাতা [mat̪a] জননী	அம்மா - amma / தாய் - thaai
पिता pitR / जनक janaka	पिता (pitā) papa / बाप (bāp)	father	male parent	baba বাবা [baba] pita পিতা [pit̪a] বাপ [bāp]	அப்பா - Appa / தந்தை - Thandhai
भर्ता bharta / पति patI	पति (pati)	husband	male spouse	shami স্বামী [ʃami] / shaheb সাহেব	கணவன் - Kanavan / புருஷன் - Purushan
भार्या bhAryA / पत्नी patnI	पत्नी (patnī) / बीवी (bīvī)	wife	female spouse	stri স্ত্রী [st̪ri] / bibi বিবি	மனைவி manaivi / pondaatti / Pensaadhi
पुत्र putra / तनय tanaya	बेटा (beṭā)	son	male offspring	chhele ছেলে [tʃʰele] putro পুত্র [put̪ro]	மகன் - Magan
पुत्री putrI / तनया tanayA	बेटी (beṭī)	daughter	female offspring	meye মেয়ে [meje] konna কন্যা [kɔnna]	மகள் - Magal / Ponnu (Pen)
मातामही mAtAmahI	नानी (nānī)	grandmother	Maternal Grandmother / Mother’s Mother	Nani / didima দিদিমা [d̪id̪ima] dida দিদা [d̪id̪a]	பாட்டி - Paati / அம்மம்மா - Ammamma / அம்மாச்சி - Ammaachi
पितामही pitAmahI	दादी (dādī)	grandmother	Paternal Grandmother / Father’s Mother	Dadi / thakurma ঠাকুরমা [ʈʰakurma] thakuma ঠাকুমা [ʈʰakuma] dadi দাদি [d̪ad̪i]	பாட்டி - Paati / அப்பாயி - Appaayee / அப்பம்மா - Appamma / அப்பத்தா - Appatha
मातामह mAtAmaha	नाना (nānā)	grandfather	maternal grandfather / mother’s father	Nana / thakurda ঠাকুর্দা [ʈʰakurd̪a] dadu দাদু [d̪ad̪u]	தாத்தா - Thaatha / அய்யா - Ayya
पितामह pitAmaha	दादा (dādā)	grandfather	paternal grandfather / father’s father	Dada / dadamoshai দাদামশাই [d̪ad̪amɔʃai] dadu দাদু [d̪ad̪u]	தாத்தா - Thaatha / பாட்டன் - Paatan
प्रपितामही prapitAmahI / प्रमातामही pramAtAmahi	परदादी (pardādī "paternal grandparent's mother") / परनानी (parnānī "maternal grandparent's mother")	great grandmother	grandmother’s mother / grandfather’s mother	পরদাদি (pordadi) / পরনানী (pornani)	கொள்ளு பாட்டி - Kollu Patti
प्रपितामह prapitAmaha / प्रमातामह pramAtAmaha	परदादा (pardādā "paternal grandparent's father") / परनाना (parnānā "maternal grandparent's father")	great grandfather	grandmother’s father/ grandfather’s father	পরদাদা (Pordādā) / পরনানা (pornānā)	கொள்ளு தாத்தா - Kollu Thatha / கொள்ளு பாட்டன் - Kollu Paatan
अग्रजा agrajA / ज्येष्ठा jyESThA	बड़ी बहन (baṛī bahan) / दीदी (dīdī)	elder sister	elder sister	দিদি didi / আপা Apa	அக்கா Akka
अनुजा anujA	छोटी बहन (chhoṭī bahan)	younger sister	younger sister	bon বোন [bon]	தங்கை Thangai
अग्रज agraja / ज्येष्ठ jyeSTHa	भैया (bhaiyā) / बड़ा भाई (baṛā bhāī) / दादा (dādā)	elder brother	elder brother	ভাই bhai / দাদা dada / ভাইয়া bhaiya	அண்ணன் Annan
अनुज anuja	छोटा भाई (chhoṭā bhāī)	younger brother	younger brother	bhai ভাই [bʰai]	தம்பி Thambi
मतुल matula	बड़ा मामा (baṛā māmā)	uncle	mother’s elder brother	মামা [māmā]br>matul মাতুল [mat̪ul]	மாமா Mama
मातुला mAtulA	बड़ी मामी (baṛī māmī)	aunt	mother’s elder brother’s wife	mamima মামিমা [mamima] mami মামী [māmī]	மாமி Maami
मतुल matula	छोटा मामा (chhoṭā māmā)	uncle	mother’s younger brother	chotto mama মামা [mama] matul মাতুল [mat̪ul]	மாமா Mama
मातुला mAtulA	छोटी मामी (chhoṭī māmī)	aunt	mother’s younger brother’s wife	mamima মামিমা [mamima] mami মামী [mami]	மாமி Maami
मातुला mAtulA	बड़ी मौसी (baṛī mausī)	aunt	mother’s elder sister	mashima মাসিমা [maʃima] mashi মাসি [maʃi] খালা [Khālā]	பெரியம்மா Periyamma
मतुल matula	बड़ा मौसा (baṛā mausā)	uncle	mother’s elder sister’s husband	meshomoshai মেসোমশাই [meʃomɔʃai] mesho মেসো [meʃo] খালু [Khālu]	பெரியப்பா Periyappa
मातुला mAtulA	छोटी मौसी (chhoṭī mausī)	aunt	mother’s younger sister	mashima মাসিমা [maʃima] mashi মাসি [maʃi] খালা [Khālā]	சித்தி Chitti
मतुल matula	छोटा मौसा (chhoṭā mausā)	uncle	mother’s younger sister’s husband	meshomoshai মেসোমশাই [meʃomɔʃai] mesho মেসো [meʃo] খালু [Khālu]	சித்தப்பா Chittappa
भ्रातृजाया bhratRjAyA	भाभी(bhābhī/bhãjaai)	elder sister in law	elder brother's wife	বৌদিদি boudidi / ভাবী bhābī	அண்ணி Anni / மதினி mathini
भ्रातृजाया bhratRjAyA	भायाऊ (bhāyāū)	younger sister in law	younger brother's wife	বৌদিদি boudidi / ভাবী bhābī
ताततुल्य tAtatulya	ताऊ (tāū) / ताया (tāyā)	uncle	father’s elder brother	jethamoshai জ্যাঠামশাই [dʒæʈʰamɔʃai] jethu জেঠু [dʒeʈʰu]	பெரியப்பா Periyappa
पितृव्यपत्नी pitRvyapatnI	ताई (tāī)	aunt	father’s elder brother’s wife	jethima জেঠিমা [dʒeʈʰima] jethi জেঠি [dʒeʈʰi]	பெரியம்மா Periyamma
ताततुल्य tAtatulya	चाचा (chāchā)	uncle	father’s younger brother	kaka কাকা [kaka] চাচা chacha	சித்தப்பா Chittappa
पितृव्यपत्नी pitRvyapatnI	चाची (chāchī)	aunt	father’s younger brother’s wife	kakima কাকিমা [kakima] kaki কাকি [kaki] chachī [চাচী]	சித்தி Chitti
पितृभगिनी pitRbhaginI	बड़ी बुआ (baṛī buā) / बड़ी फूफी (baṛī phūphī)	aunt	father’s elder sister	pishima পিসীমা [piʃima] pishi পিসি [piʃi] ফুপু (phupu)	அத்தை Athhai
पितृव्य pitRvya	बड़ा फूफा (baṛā phūphā)	uncle	father’s elder sister’s husband	pishemoshai পিসেমশাই [piʃemɔʃai] pisho পিশো [piʃo] ফুপা Phupa	அத்திம்பேர் Athimber
पितृभगिनी pitRbhaginI	छोटी बुआ (chhoṭī buā) / छोटी फूफी (chhoṭī phūphī)	aunt	father’s younger sister	pishima পিসীমা [piʃima] pishi পিসি [piʃi] ফুপু (phupu)	அத்தை Athhai
पितृव्य pitRvya	छोटा फूफा (chhoṭā phūphā)	uncle	father’s younger sister’s husband	pishemoshai পিসেমশাই [piʃemɔʃai] pisho পিশো [piʃo] ফুপা Phupa	அத்திம்பேர் Athimber
ननान्दा nanAndA	ननद (nanad)	sister-in-law	husband's elder sister	ননদ Nanod	நாத்தனார் Nathanar
ननान्दा nanAndA	ननद (nanad)	sister-in-law	husband's younger sister	Nonod	நாத்தனார் Nathanar
देवर devara	जेठ (jeṭh)	brother-in-law	husband's elder brother	ভাসুর Bhashur	மச்சினர் Machinar
ननान्दा nanAndA	जेठानी (jeṭhānī)	sister-in-law	husband's elder brother's wife	Jaa	ஓர்ப்படி Orpadi
देवर devara	देवर (devar)	brother-in-law	husband's younger brother	Dewor	மச்சினர் Machinar
ननान्दा nanAndA	देवरानी (devrānī)	sister-in-law	husband's younger brother's wife	Jaa	ஓர்ப்படி Orpadi
-	साढ़ू (sāṛhū)	brother-in-law	wife's sister's husband	Bhairabhai	ஷட்டகர் Shaddagar
-	साली (sālī)	sister-in-law	wife's sister	শালী Shaali	மச்சினி machini
-	साला (sālā)	brother-in-law	wife's brother	শালা Shaala	மச்சான் Machan
-	जीजा (jījā) / बहनोई (bahanoī)	brother-in-law	sister's husband	জামাইবাবু Jamaibabu দুলাভাই dulhabhai	அத்திம்பேர் Athimber (elder sister's)
-	दामाद (dāmād) / जमाई (jamāī)	son-in-law	daughter's husband	Juwai	மாப்பிள்ளை Maapillai
-	बहू (bahū)	daughter-in-law	son's wife	Bouma	மாட்டுப்பெண் Mattupen
-	ससुर (sasur)	Father-in-law	Husband/Wife's father	Shoshur	மாமனார் Maamanaar
-	सास (sās)	Mother-in-law	Husband/Wife's mother	Shashuri	மாமியார் Maamiyaar
-	भतीजी (bhatījī)	Niece	Brother's daughter	Bhaijhee	அண்ணா/தம்பி பொண்ணு Anna/thambi Ponnu
-	भतीजा (bhatījā)	Nephew	Brother's son	Bhaipo	அண்ணா/தம்பி பையன் Anna/Thambi Paiyan
-	भानजी (bhānjī)	Niece	Sister's daughter	Bonjhee	அக்கா/தங்கை பொண்ணு Akka/Thangai Ponnu
-	भानजा (bhānjā)	Nephew	Sister's son	Bonpo	அக்கா/தங்கை பையன் Akka/Thangai Paiyan
-	समधी (samdhī)	Child's Father-in-law	Son/Daughter's Father-in-law	Beyai	சம்பந்தி Sambandhi
-	समधन (samdhan) / समधिन (samdhin)	Child's Mother-in-law	Son/Daughter's Mother-in-law	Beyan	சம்பந்தி Sambandhi
-	सौतेले पिता (Sautela Pita)	Step Father	Son/Daughter's New Father from Biological Mother	-	-
-	सौतेली माँ (Sauteli Maa)	Step Mother	Son/Daughter's New Mother from Biological Father	-	சின்னம்மா Chinnamma

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