The complete Punjabi family tree: what to call every relative on your father's side, mother's side and in-laws — taya, chacha, mama, masi, jeth, nanad and more — with a quick-find chart, Gurmukhi script and pronunciation.
Punjabi has a specific word for every relative: your father's older brother is your taya, his younger brother your chacha, your mother's brother your mama, your mother's sister your masi. This guide is a complete Punjabi family tree chart — every relationship on your father's side, your mother's side, your in-laws and the next generation — with Gurmukhi script and pronunciation, plus a quick-find table for the terms people look up most.
Family Vocabulary in Punjabi
Punjabi has more specific words for family relationships than English does — it distinguishes your mother's side from your father's side, your spouse's siblings from your siblings, and so on. This guide covers the 30+ most important family terms with Gurmukhi script and pronunciation.
Why Family Vocabulary Matters in Punjabi
Family is the centre of Punjabi culture. You rarely meet someone in a Punjabi household without quickly being told who they are — your "chacha ji" (paternal uncle), your "mami" (maternal uncle's wife), your "nani" (maternal grandmother). Getting these terms right shows respect and earns you instant warmth from elders. For heritage speakers reconnecting with the language, family words are often the most emotionally rewarding place to start.
Punjabi Family Tree Chart (At a Glance)
Here is the whole tree on one chart, grouped by branch. Add ji to any of these when speaking to the person directly (Taya ji, Masi ji). Bookmark or print this page — the detailed tables with pronunciation follow below.
| Branch | Relationship | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father's side | Father's father / mother | Dada / Dadi | ਦਾਦਾ / ਦਾਦੀ |
| Father's side | Father's older brother / his wife | Taya / Tai | ਤਾਇਆ / ਤਾਈ |
| Father's side | Father's younger brother / his wife | Chacha / Chachi | ਚਾਚਾ / ਚਾਚੀ |
| Father's side | Father's sister / her husband | Bhua / Phuphar | ਭੂਆ / ਫੁੱਫੜ |
| Mother's side | Mother's father / mother | Nana / Nani | ਨਾਨਾ / ਨਾਨੀ |
| Mother's side | Mother's brother / his wife | Mama / Mami | ਮਾਮਾ / ਮਾਮੀ |
| Mother's side | Mother's sister / her husband | Masi / Masar | ਮਾਸੀ / ਮਾਸੜ |
| Your generation | Older brother / older sister | Bhaji (Veer ji) / Bhainji (Didi) | ਭਾ ਜੀ (ਵੀਰ ਜੀ) / ਭੈਣ ਜੀ (ਦੀਦੀ) |
| Your generation | Brother's wife / sister's husband | Bhabi / Jija | ਭਾਬੀ / ਜੀਜਾ |
| Your generation | Husband / wife | Pati (ghar wala) / Patni (ghar wali) | ਪਤੀ (ਘਰਵਾਲਾ) / ਪਤਨੀ (ਘਰਵਾਲੀ) |
| In-laws | Father-in-law / mother-in-law | Sohra / Sass | ਸਹੁਰਾ / ਸੱਸ |
| In-laws | Husband's older brother / his wife | Jeth / Jethani | ਜੇਠ / ਜਠਾਣੀ |
| In-laws | Husband's younger brother / his wife | Deor / Derani | ਦਿਉਰ / ਦਰਾਣੀ |
| In-laws | Husband's sister / her husband | Nanad / Nandoiya | ਨਣਦ / ਨਣਦੋਈਆ |
| In-laws | Wife's brother / his wife | Sala / Salehar | ਸਾਲਾ / ਸਾਲੇਹਾਰ |
| In-laws | Wife's sister / her husband | Sali / Sandhu | ਸਾਲੀ / ਸਾਂਢੂ |
| In-laws | Your child's father-in-law / mother-in-law | Kurm / Kurmani | ਕੁੜਮ / ਕੁੜਮਣੀ |
| Next generation | Son / daughter | Putt / Dhee | ਪੁੱਤ / ਧੀ |
| Next generation | Son-in-law / daughter-in-law | Jawai / Nooh | ਜਵਾਈ / ਨੂੰਹ |
| Next generation | Brother's son / daughter | Bhatija / Bhatiji | ਭਤੀਜਾ / ਭਤੀਜੀ |
| Next generation | Sister's son / daughter | Bhanja / Bhanji | ਭਾਣਜਾ / ਭਾਣਜੀ |
| Next generation | Son's son / daughter | Pota / Poti | ਪੋਤਾ / ਪੋਤੀ |
| Next generation | Daughter's son / daughter | Dohta / Dohti | ਦੋਹਤਾ / ਦੋਹਤੀ |
The pattern to notice: -a endings are usually the man and -i endings the woman (Dada/Dadi, Chacha/Chachi, Pota/Poti), and the words change depending on whether the link runs through a father, a mother, a son or a daughter.
Immediate Family
| Relationship | Gurmukhi | Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | ਮਾਂ | Maa | maa |
| Mother (affectionate) | ਮੰਮੀ | Mummy | mum-mee |
| Father | ਪਿਤਾ | Pita | pi-taa |
| Father (affectionate) | ਪਾਪਾ / ਡੈਡੀ | Papa / Daddy | paa-paa / dad-dee |
| Parents | ਮਾਪੇ | Maape | maa-pay |
| Older brother | ਭਰਾ / ਭਾ ਜੀ | Bhra / Bha ji | buh-ra / baa-jee |
| Younger brother | ਛੋਟਾ ਭਰਾ | Chhota Bhra | chho-ta buh-ra |
| Older sister | ਭੈਣ / ਭੈਣ ਜੀ | Bhain / Bhain ji | bhain |
| Younger sister | ਛੋਟੀ ਭੈਣ | Chhoti Bhain | chho-tee bhain |
| Husband | ਪਤੀ | Pati | puh-tee |
| Wife | ਪਤਨੀ | Patni | put-nee |
| Son | ਪੁੱਤਰ / ਮੁੰਡਾ | Puttar / Munda | put-tar / moon-da |
| Daughter | ਧੀ / ਕੁੜੀ | Dhee / Kuri | dhee / koo-ree |
Note on age: Punjabi distinguishes older from younger siblings. The older brother (Bha ji) and older sister (Bhain ji) are addressed with "ji" as a sign of respect. Younger siblings are addressed by name.
Grandparents — Maternal vs Paternal Matters
Unlike English's generic "grandmother" and "grandfather," Punjabi uses completely different words depending on which side of the family the grandparent is from.
| Relationship | Gurmukhi | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Paternal grandfather (father's father) | ਦਾਦਾ | Dada |
| Paternal grandmother (father's mother) | ਦਾਦੀ | Dadi |
| Maternal grandfather (mother's father) | ਨਾਨਾ | Nana |
| Maternal grandmother (mother's mother) | ਨਾਨੀ | Nani |
The respectful form adds "ji" — so "Dadi ji" or "Nani ji" — when addressing them directly.
Aunts and Uncles
This is where Punjabi gets very specific. There are eight different words for aunts and uncles depending on (a) which side of the family they come from and (b) whether they're related by blood or marriage.
Father's Side
| Relationship | Gurmukhi | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Father's older brother | ਤਾਇਆ | Taya |
| Father's older brother's wife | ਤਾਈ | Tai |
| Father's younger brother | ਚਾਚਾ | Chacha |
| Father's younger brother's wife | ਚਾਚੀ | Chachi |
| Father's sister | ਭੂਆ | Bhua |
| Father's sister's husband | ਫੁੱਫੜ | Phuphar |
Mother's Side
| Relationship | Gurmukhi | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Mother's brother | ਮਾਮਾ | Mama |
| Mother's brother's wife | ਮਾਮੀ | Mami |
| Mother's sister | ਮਾਸੀ | Masi |
| Mother's sister's husband | ਮਾਸੜ | Masar |
Why so many words? Punjabi (and broader South Asian) family culture has historically maintained close ties with both sides of the family, and the specific relationship affects social etiquette — who you can joke with, who you defer to, who has authority in certain situations. The vocabulary reflects that complexity.
In-Laws
Marriage brings a whole new set of relationship terms.
| Relationship | Gurmukhi | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Father-in-law | ਸਹੁਰਾ | Sauhura |
| Mother-in-law | ਸੱਸ | Sass |
| Husband's older brother | ਜੇਠ | Jeth |
| Husband's younger brother | ਦਿਉਰ | Diyor |
| Husband's sister | ਨਣਦ | Nanad |
| Wife's brother | ਸਾਲਾ | Sala |
| Wife's sister | ਸਾਲੀ | Sali |
| Son-in-law | ਜਵਾਈ | Jawai |
| Daughter-in-law | ਨੂੰਹ | Nooh |
| Brother's wife | ਭਾਬੀ / ਭਰਜਾਈ | Bhabi / Bharjai |
| Sister's husband | ਜੀਜਾ | Jija |
| Husband's older brother's wife | ਜਠਾਣੀ | Jethani |
| Husband's younger brother's wife | ਦਰਾਣੀ | Derani |
| Husband's sister's husband | ਨਣਦੋਈਆ | Nandoiya |
| Wife's brother's wife | ਸਾਲੇਹਾਰ | Salehar |
| Wife's sister's husband | ਸਾਂਢੂ | Sandhu |
| Your child's father-in-law / mother-in-law | ਕੁੜਮ / ਕੁੜਮਣੀ | Kurm / Kurmani |
Your spouse's family home is the saure (ਸਹੁਰੇ). If you're about to meet a Punjabi partner's family for the first time, our guide to Punjabi for partners covers the greetings, the titles and the etiquette for the day.
Children and Grandchildren
| Relationship | Gurmukhi | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Children (general) | ਬੱਚੇ | Bachche |
| Grandson (son's son) | ਪੋਤਾ | Pota |
| Granddaughter (son's daughter) | ਪੋਤੀ | Poti |
| Grandson (daughter's son) | ਦੋਹਤਾ | Dohta |
| Granddaughter (daughter's daughter) | ਦੋਹਤੀ | Dohti |
| Nephew / niece (brother's children) | ਭਤੀਜਾ / ਭਤੀਜੀ | Bhatija / Bhatiji |
| Nephew / niece (sister's children) | ਭਾਣਜਾ / ਭਾਣਜੀ | Bhanja / Bhanji |
Quick-Find: The Family Words People Search For Most
If you came here with one specific relative in mind, this is the fastest answer. English has one word where Punjabi has several — "brother-in-law" and "sister-in-law" especially — so the table shows which Punjabi word fits which relationship.
| You're looking for… | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Dad's older brother | Taya ji | ਤਾਇਆ ਜੀ |
| Dad's older brother's wife | Tai ji | ਤਾਈ ਜੀ |
| Dad's younger brother / his wife | Chacha ji / Chachi ji | ਚਾਚਾ ਜੀ / ਚਾਚੀ ਜੀ |
| Dad's sister / her husband | Bhua ji / Phuphar ji | ਭੂਆ ਜੀ / ਫੁੱਫੜ ਜੀ |
| Mom's brother / his wife (maternal uncle, aunt) | Mama ji / Mami ji | ਮਾਮਾ ਜੀ / ਮਾਮੀ ਜੀ |
| Mom's sister / her husband | Masi ji / Masar ji | ਮਾਸੀ ਜੀ / ਮਾਸੜ ਜੀ |
| Paternal grandmother / grandfather | Dadi ji / Dada ji | ਦਾਦੀ ਜੀ / ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ |
| Maternal grandmother / grandfather | Nani ji / Nana ji | ਨਾਨੀ ਜੀ / ਨਾਨਾ ਜੀ |
| Husband | Pati (everyday: ghar wala) | ਪਤੀ (ਘਰਵਾਲਾ) |
| Wife | Patni (everyday: ghar wali) | ਪਤਨੀ (ਘਰਵਾਲੀ) |
| Brother-in-law — sister's husband | Jija ji | ਜੀਜਾ ਜੀ |
| Brother-in-law — wife's brother | Sala | ਸਾਲਾ |
| Brother-in-law — husband's older / younger brother | Jeth / Deor | ਜੇਠ / ਦਿਉਰ |
| Sister-in-law — brother's wife | Bhabi ji | ਭਾਬੀ ਜੀ |
| Sister-in-law — wife's sister | Sali | ਸਾਲੀ |
| Sister-in-law — husband's sister | Nanad | ਨਣਦ |
| Father-in-law / mother-in-law | Sohra / Sass | ਸਹੁਰਾ / ਸੱਸ |
| Son-in-law / daughter-in-law | Jawai / Nooh | ਜਵਾਈ / ਨੂੰਹ |
| Older sister / younger sister | Bhainji (Didi) / Chhoti bhain | ਭੈਣ ਜੀ (ਦੀਦੀ) / ਛੋਟੀ ਭੈਣ |
| Grandson — son's son / daughter's son | Pota / Dohta | ਪੋਤਾ / ਦੋਹਤਾ |
| Granddaughter — son's daughter / daughter's daughter | Poti / Dohti | ਪੋਤੀ / ਦੋਹਤੀ |
| Siblings (brothers and sisters) | Bhain-bhra | ਭੈਣ-ਭਰਾ |
How to Address Elders Respectfully
A few simple rules go a long way:
- Add "ji" after the relationship word to show respect: "Mummy ji," "Papa ji," "Dadi ji," "Mama ji"
- Use "tusi" (formal you) instead of "tu" (informal) when speaking to anyone older
- Never use first names for elders. Always use the relationship term.
Common Phrases Using Family Words
- ਮਾਂ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਹੈ? (Maa kithe hai?) — "Where is mom?"
- ਮੇਰੇ ਦੋ ਭਰਾ ਹਨ (Mere do bhra han) — "I have two brothers"
- ਨਾਨੀ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਣ ਚੱਲੀਏ (Nani ji nu milan challiye) — "Let's go visit grandma"
- ਮੇਰੇ ਚਾਚਾ ਜੀ ਡਾਕਟਰ ਹਨ (Mere chacha ji doctor han) — "My uncle is a doctor"
For Heritage Speakers: Reconnecting Through Family Words
If you grew up hearing Punjabi at home but never fully learned to speak it, family vocabulary is the perfect entry point. You probably already recognise "mummy," "papa," "nani," and "dadi" — you just don't know the structure behind them. Once you can name every relative properly and use them in simple sentences, you've crossed the biggest hurdle: feeling confident enough to speak with your grandparents. If that sounds like you, read our guide to going from understanding Punjabi to actually speaking it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you call your father's older brother in Punjabi?
Your father's older brother is your Taya ji (ਤਾਇਆ ਜੀ) and his wife is your Tai ji (ਤਾਈ ਜੀ). Your father's younger brother is your Chacha ji, and his wife your Chachi ji.
How do you say brother-in-law in Punjabi?
It depends on the relationship. Your sister's husband is Jija ji (ਜੀਜਾ ਜੀ); your wife's brother is Sala (ਸਾਲਾ); your husband's older brother is Jeth (ਜੇਠ) and his younger brother Deor (ਦਿਉਰ). Likewise sister-in-law is Bhabi (brother's wife), Sali (wife's sister) or Nanad (husband's sister).
What are the Punjabi words for husband and wife?
Husband is Pati (ਪਤੀ) and wife is Patni (ਪਤਨੀ). In everyday speech people often say ghar wala (ਘਰਵਾਲਾ) and ghar wali (ਘਰਵਾਲੀ) — literally "the one of the house".
What is the difference between pota and dohta?
Both mean grandson, but through different children: Pota (ਪੋਤਾ) is your son's son, while Dohta (ਦੋਹਤਾ) is your daughter's son. The same split applies to granddaughters — Poti and Dohti — and to grandparents: Dada/Dadi on your father's side, Nana/Nani on your mother's.
Practice Punjabi Family Vocabulary with Alfaazo
Memorising tables only gets you so far. Alfaazo drills family vocabulary with native audio, family-tree exercises, and real conversation scenarios — so the words stick where it matters: in real conversation with your loved ones.
Free on iOS and Android. Start with the Family lesson — it takes 5 minutes.
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