Family Members (Pariwar)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Learn how to name your family members in Gujarati using simple possessive markers like 'maro' or 'mari'.
- Use 'maro' (masculine) or 'mari' (feminine) before the family member.
- Grandparents and parents have specific respectful titles like 'Dada' and 'Mummy'.
- Family nouns change based on the gender of the person being described.
Possessive Pronoun Agreement
| Pronoun | Gender | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Maro
|
Masculine
|
Maro bhai
|
|
Mari
|
Feminine
|
Mari bahen
|
|
Mara
|
Plural/Respect
|
Mara dada
|
Meanings
Kinship terms are nouns used to identify family relationships. In Gujarati, these are often paired with possessive pronouns to indicate belonging.
Direct reference
Naming a family member directly.
“Pita (Father)”
“Mata (Mother)”
Possessive reference
Indicating relationship to the speaker.
“Maro bhai (My brother)”
“Mari bahen (My sister)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Maro + Noun
|
Maro bhai
|
|
Negative
|
Maro + Noun + Nathi
|
Maro bhai nathi
|
|
Question
|
Shu + Maro + Noun?
|
Shu maro bhai che?
|
|
Respectful
|
Mara + Noun
|
Mara dada
|
Spectre de formalité
A mara pita che. (Introduction)
A maro papa che. (Introduction)
Aa maro papa. (Introduction)
Aa maro dad. (Introduction)
Family Tree Basics
Male
- Bhai Brother
- Pita Father
Female
- Bahen Sister
- Mata Mother
Exemples par niveau
Maro bhai.
My brother.
Mari bahen.
My sister.
Maro pita.
My father.
Mari mata.
My mother.
A maro dada che.
This is my grandfather.
A mari dadi che.
This is my grandmother.
A maro kaka che.
This is my uncle.
A mari kaki che.
This is my aunt.
Mara dada ghare che.
My grandfather is at home.
Mari bahen bhane che.
My sister is studying.
Mara pita office gaya.
My father went to the office.
Mari mata rasoi banave che.
My mother is cooking.
Mara kaka-kaki aaje aavshe.
My uncle and aunt will come today.
Mari bahen ne doctor banvu che.
My sister wants to become a doctor.
Mara dada ne juno samay yaad che.
My grandfather remembers the old times.
Mari mata ne sangit game che.
My mother likes music.
Mara purvajo nu ghar ghana varsho junu che.
My ancestors' house is many years old.
Mari bahen ni sagsambandhi sathe ni vat che.
My sister is talking with relatives.
Mara pita ni parampara ne hu sambhalu chu.
I am maintaining my father's tradition.
Mari mata ni shikhaman mane kaam lagi.
My mother's advice was useful to me.
Kul-parampara pramane, mara dada a vidhi kare che.
According to family tradition, my grandfather performs this ritual.
Mari mata ni vat-chit ma sanskar jhalake che.
My mother's conversation reflects values.
Mara pita na purvajo aa pradesh na hata.
My father's ancestors were not from this region.
Mari bahen ni pragati joyi ne anand thayo.
I felt happy seeing my sister's progress.
Facile à confondre
Learners confuse singular masculine with plural/respectful.
Erreurs courantes
Maro bahen
Mari bahen
Mari bhai
Maro bhai
Maro dada
Mara dada
Maro mata
Mari mata
Mari kaka
Maro kaka
Maro kaki
Mari kaki
A maro mata che
A mari mata che
Mara bhai aave che
Maro bhai aave che
Mari pita
Maro pita
Maro dadi
Mari dadi
Mara purvajo aave che
Mara purvajo aave che (correct, but check context)
Structures de phrases
A ___ ___ che.
Real World Usage
Mari bahen sathe.
Gender Check
Smart Tips
Use honorifics.
Prononciation
Aspiration
Ensure the 'bh' in 'bhai' is aspirated.
Question
Maro bhai che?
Rising intonation at the end.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Maro is for Men (M-M), Mari is for Maidens (M-M).
Association visuelle
Imagine a boy wearing a blue shirt (Maro) and a girl wearing a pink dress (Mari).
Rhyme
Maro for the brother, Mari for the sister, remember this well and you won't be a mister!
Story
Rohan points to his brother and says 'Maro bhai'. Then he points to his sister and says 'Mari bahen'. Finally, he bows to his grandfather and says 'Mara dada'.
Word Web
Défi
Introduce three family members to a friend in Gujarati.
Notes culturelles
Respect for elders is paramount. Always use 'Mara' for grandparents.
Sanskrit roots.
Amorces de conversation
Taro bhai che?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
___ bhai.
Score: /1
Exercices pratiques
1 exercises___ bhai.
Score: /1
FAQ (1)
Because he is an elder and deserves respect.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Mi hermano
Gujarati changes the pronoun based on the noun's gender.
Mon frère
Gujarati has a specific plural/respect form.
Mein Bruder
Gujarati gender agreement is more rigid.
Watashi no ani
Gujarati uses possessive pronouns.
Akhi
Gujarati uses separate pronouns.
Wo de gege
Gujarati has gendered pronouns.
