Hindi Family Basics: Mom, Dad, & Siblings (mātā, pitā, bhāī, bahan)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Hindi nouns have gender (masculine/feminine), and kinship terms like 'mātā' (mother) and 'pitā' (father) follow these rules to dictate verb and adjective agreement.
- Most masculine nouns end in -ā (e.g., pitā - father).
- Most feminine nouns end in -ī or -ā (e.g., mātā - mother).
- Adjectives and verbs change to match the gender of the family member.
Overview
Hindi kinship terms are a foundational element of the language, reflecting deep-seated cultural values of family, respect, and social structure. Unlike English, where terms like 'sibling' are gender-neutral, Hindi requires you to be specific. The core words for immediate family—mātā (माता, mother), pitā (पिता, father), bahan (बहन, sister), and bhāī (भाई, brother)—are more than just labels.
They are grammatically active nouns that dictate the form of other words in a sentence, a concept known as agreement.
This system of agreement is central to Hindi grammar. Adjectives, possessives, and verbs must change to match the gender and number of the noun they describe. This guide provides a detailed examination of these four essential nouns.
We will cover their inherent gender, how they force grammatical agreement, the crucial distinction between formal and informal registers, and the use of honorifics to show respect. Mastering these terms is not just a vocabulary exercise; it is your first major step into understanding noun-adjective agreement, a principle that governs the entire language.
How This Grammar Works
merā/merī) and adjectives like 'good' (acchā/acchī) must 'agree' with the noun's gender.bhāī (भाई) is masculine, you must say merā bhāī (मेरा भाई, my brother). Because bahan (बहन) is feminine, you must say merī bahan (मेरी बहन, my sister).mātā or pitā, you use the honorific plural.pitā ātā hai (पिता आता है, father comes), the respectful and correct form is pitā āte haĩ (पिता आते हैं). This pluralization for respect is non-negotiable in polite conversation and is a clear marker of fluency and cultural awareness.Formation Pattern
-ā for masculine, -ī for feminine), these terms have endings that can be misleading. Pay close attention to the assigned gender, not the final vowel sound.
mātā | माता | Mother | Feminine | Formal, literary. Often replaced by mā̃ (माँ) in speech. |
pitā | पिता | Father | Masculine | An important exception. Despite the -ā ending, it is masculine. |
bahan | बहन | Sister | Feminine | Ends in a consonant, which is common for feminine nouns. |
bhāī | भाई | Brother | Masculine | The -ī ending is deceptive; this word is unequivocally masculine. |
bhāī (भाई), and two brothers are also bhāī (भाई). The plurality is shown by the verb and other agreeing words. For example:
Ek bhāī ā rahā hai. (एक भाई आ रहा है।) - One brother is coming.
Do bhāī ā rahe haĩ. (दो भाई आ रहे हैं।) - Two brothers are coming.
hai to haĩ and the auxiliary from rahā to rahe to indicate the plural subject. The noun bhāī itself remains unchanged.
Gender & Agreement
ā-e-ī system.-ā ending, masculine plural/oblique get an -e ending, and feminine words (both singular and plural) get an -ī ending.merā (मेरा, masculine singular), mere (मेरे, masculine plural/oblique), and merī (मेरी, feminine singular/plural).merā (मेरा) | Masculine Singular Nouns | merā pitā (मेरा पिता, my father), merā bhāī (मेरा भाई, my brother) |merī (मेरी) | Feminine Singular/Plural Nouns | merī mātā (मेरी माता, my mother), merī bahan (मेरी बहन, my sister) |merā bhāī because her brother (bhāī) is masculine. A male speaker still says merī bahan because his sister (bahan) is feminine.choṭā (छोटा, small/younger) and baṛā (बड़ा, big/older).choṭā/baṛā (छोटा/बड़ा) | Masculine Singular Nouns | merā choṭā bhāī (मेरा छोटा भाई, my younger brother) |choṭī/baṛī (छोटी/बड़ी) | Feminine Singular/Plural Nouns | merī baṛī bahan (मेरी बड़ी बहन, my elder sister) |-e.- Incorrect (Disrespectful):
Merā pitā acchā hai.(मेरा पिता अच्छा है।) - My father is good. - Correct (Respectful):
Mere pitā acche haĩ.(मेरे पिता अच्छे हैं।) - My father is good.
merā becomes mere and acchā becomes acche. The verb hai (है) becomes the nasalized plural haĩ (हैं). This applies to both mātā and pitā, and often other respected elders.mātā, the adjective already ends in -ī which doesn't change for plurals, but the verb still becomes plural: Merī mātā acchī haĩ (मेरी माता अच्छी हैं).When To Use It
mātā/pitā) and informal (mā̃/pāpā or mummy/daddy) terms depends entirely on context, relationship, and register.mātā, pitā):- Official Documents: Filling out forms for government services, school admissions, or legal paperwork. The fields will often be labeled
Mātā kā Nām(माता का नाम) andPitā kā Nām(पिता का नाम). - Formal Introductions: When introducing your parents in a formal setting, like to a university professor or a senior colleague.
Ye mere pitā jī haĩ.(ये मेरे पिता जी हैं।) - This is my father. - Religious or Ceremonial Contexts: In prayers, ceremonies, or traditional speeches.
mā̃, pāpā, mummy, bhāī, bahan):Mā̃ (माँ) is the most common and intimate word for 'mom'. Pāpā (पापा) is standard for 'dad'. The English words mummy and daddy are also extremely common in urban India, often used interchangeably with the Hindi terms.- At Home: Calling out to a parent:
Mā̃, khānā taiyār hai?(माँ, खाना तैयार है?, Mom, is the food ready?). - Casual Conversation: Talking about your family with friends:
Merā bhāī kal āegā.(मेरा भाई कल आएगा।, My brother will come tomorrow.).Tumhārī bahan kyā kartī hai?(तुम्हारी बहन क्या करती है?, What does your sister do?). - Social Media: Captioning a family photo on Instagram:
Meri pyārī mā̃(मेरी प्यारी माँ, My lovely mom).
-jī (जी) suffix:pitā is already formal, pitā jī (पिता जी) is the gold standard of respectful address.mummy-jī or pāpā-jī.Common Mistakes
- 1Incorrect Gender Agreement: This is the most common error. Students incorrectly match the possessive with their own gender instead of the noun's gender.
- Error: A female speaker says:
Merī bhāī(मेरी भाई). - Correction:
Merā bhāī(मेरा भाई). The possessivemerāmust agree with the masculine nounbhāī, regardless of who is speaking.
- 1The
pitāMasculine Exception: The-āending onpitā(पिता) constantly tricks learners into treating it as feminine, as many other languages associate this ending with femininity.
- Error:
Merī pitā(मेरी पिता) orAcchī pitā(अच्छी पिता). - Correction:
Merā pitā(मेरा पिता) /Acche pitā(अच्छे पिता, with honorifics). Remind yourself thatpitāis a historical holdover from Sanskrit (pitṛ) and is grammatically masculine.
- 1Forgetting the Honorific Plural: Speaking about parents with singular verbs and adjectives is grammatically intelligible but culturally jarring. It can sound cold, distant, or disrespectful.
- Error:
Merā pitā daftar jātā hai.(मेरा पिता दफ़्तर जाता है।) - My father goes to the office. - Correction:
Mere pitā daftar jāte haĩ.(मेरे पिता दफ़तर जाते हैं।). Always use the plural-eending for adjectives/possessives and the-haĩverb ending for elders.
- 1Using
bāp(बाप) for 'Father': Whilebāptechnically means father, its usage is highly contextual and often carries a rough, informal, or even derogatory connotation. It's used in phrases liketerā bāp(तेरा बाप, your father) during an argument.
- Mistake: A learner trying to sound casual says,
Mera bāp ek doctor hai. - Guideline: As a learner, avoid
bāpentirely. Stick topitā(formal) orpāpā(informal) to prevent inadvertently causing offense. The only safe use is in the compoundmā̃-bāp(माँ-बाप), meaning 'parents'.
- 1Confusing
bhāīandbhaiyā:Bhāī(भाई) is for your actual brother.Bhaiyā(भैया), literally 'elder brother', is a common, polite way to address any male stranger who is roughly your age or older, such as a shopkeeper, taxi driver, or colleague. Usingbhāīfor a stranger can sound overly familiar.
- Error: Calling out to a shopkeeper:
Bhāī, ye kitne kā hai?(भाई, ये कितने का है?). - Correction:
Bhaiyā, ye kitne kā hai?(भैया, ये कितने का है?). Usebhaiyāfor public interactions.
Common Collocations
mātā-pitā(माता-पिता) /mā̃-bāp(माँ-बाप): The compound word for 'parents'.Mere mātā-pitā dillī mẽ rahte haĩ.(मेरे माता-पिता दिल्ली में रहते हैं।, My parents live in Delhi.)
baṛā bhāī(बड़ा भाई) /choṭā bhāī(छोटा भाई): Elder brother / Younger brother. In Indian culture, specifying age rank is common.Mera ek baṛā bhāī aur do choṭī bahanẽ haĩ.(मेरा एक बड़ा भाई और दो छोटी बहनें हैं।, I have one elder brother and two younger sisters.) Note the plural ofbahanisbahanẽ(बहनें).
baṛī bahan(बड़ी बहन) /choṭī bahan(छोटी बहन): Elder sister / Younger sister.Aap kī baṛī bahan kā nām kyā hai?(आप की बड़ी बहन का नाम क्या है?, What is your elder sister's name?)
bhāī-bahan(भाई-बहन): Siblings / Brother(s) and sister(s).Ham tīna bhāī-bahan haĩ.(हम तीन भाई-बहन हैं।, We are three siblings.)
- Adding
-jī(जी): As mentioned, this adds respect.pitā jī(पिता जी),mātā jī(माता जी),dīdī jī(दीदी जी, for an elder sister or respected female). It is less common withbhāīunless the brother is significantly older.
Real Conversations
Seeing these terms used in authentic contexts demonstrates their natural flow and register.
Scenario 1
A young professional calls home.
> Anjali: Mā̃, kaisi ho? Pāpā kahā̃ haĩ?
> (माँ, कैसी हो? पापा कहाँ हैं?)
> Mom, how are you? Where is Dad?
> Mom: Maĩ ṭhīk hū̃, beṭī. Tumhāre pāpā bāzār gaye haĩ.
> (मैं ठीक हूँ, बेटी। तुम्हारे पापा बाज़ार गए हैं।)
> I am fine, dear (daughter). Your dad has gone to the market.
Observation
Mā̃ and Pāpā. Her mother uses the honorific plural (gaye haĩ) for her husband, even when speaking to their daughter. This is standard.Scenario 2
A user posts an old photo with their siblings.
> Caption: Major throwback with my OG partners in crime! #merabhai #meribahan #family
> (Major throwback with my OG partners in crime! #mybrother #mysister #family)
Observation
Scenario 3
At a work event, an employee introduces their colleague to their father.
> Rohan: Pāpā, ye mere dost Sameer haĩ. Sameer, ye mere pitā jī haĩ.
> (पापा, ये मेरे दोस्त समीर हैं। समीर, ये मेरे पिता जी हैं।)
> Dad, this is my friend Sameer. Sameer, this is my father.
Observation
Pāpā but introduces him to the colleague as pitā jī. This is a common form of code-switching, using the informal term directly but the formal, respectful term for the introduction to an outsider.Quick FAQ
- Q: How do I say 'my parents'?
Mere mātā-pitā (मेरे माता-पिता). You must use the masculine plural possessive mere because the compound noun is treated as masculine plural.
- Q: Is it okay to use
mummyandpāpā? Will I sound less fluent?
It is perfectly normal and extremely common, especially in urban areas. It does not make you sound less fluent; it makes you sound like a modern speaker. Using Mā̃ shows a slightly deeper connection to the Hindi language itself.
- Q: If
bhāīis for one brother and also for two brothers, how do people know?
Context. The verb and adjectives change. Merā bhāī āyā (मेरा भाई आया, My brother came) vs. Mere do bhāī āye (मेरे दो भाई आये, My two brothers came). The words merā/mere and āyā/āye signal the number.
- Q: Why does
pitābreak the-āmasculine rule?
It is a remnant of its Sanskrit origin. In Sanskrit, many nouns for male relatives, like pitṛ (father) and bhrātṛ (brother), were masculine. Hindi inherited the gender even though the ending (-ā) later became associated with masculine nouns of a different class (like laṛkā, लड़का).
- Q: How do I say 'sister's husband' or 'brother's wife'?
Hindi has very specific words. A sister's husband is jījā jī (जीजा जी). A brother's wife is bhābhī (भाभी). These are also gendered nouns (masculine and feminine, respectively) and follow all the same agreement rules.
Possessive Pronoun Agreement
| Pronoun | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Plural/Honorific |
|---|---|---|---|
|
My
|
Merā
|
Merī
|
Mere
|
|
Your (informal)
|
Terā
|
Terī
|
Tere
|
|
Your (formal)
|
Āpkā
|
Āpkī
|
Āpke
|
|
His/Her/Their
|
Uskā
|
Uskī
|
Uske
|
Meanings
This rule covers the basic vocabulary for immediate family and the fundamental gender agreement required to speak about them correctly.
Direct Kinship
Referring to immediate family members.
“मेरी माता जी यहाँ हैं।”
“मेरे भाई बाहर हैं।”
Gender Agreement
Matching adjectives to the gender of the noun.
“अच्छा भाई (good brother)”
“अच्छी बहन (good sister)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Adjective + Verb
|
Merā bhāī acchā hai.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + Adjective + nahī̃ + Verb
|
Merī bahan acchī nahī̃ hai.
|
|
Question
|
Kyā + Subject + Adjective + Verb?
|
Kyā merā bhāī acchā hai?
|
|
Honorific
|
Subject + Verb(plural)
|
Mere pitā jī ā rahe haĩ.
|
|
Possessive
|
Pronoun + Noun
|
Merī mātā.
|
|
Plural
|
Subject + Verb(plural)
|
Mere bhāī khel rahe haĩ.
|
Formality Spectrum
Merī mātā jī yahā̃ haĩ. (Introducing family)
Merī mātā yahā̃ haĩ. (Introducing family)
Merī māmā yahā̃ hai. (Introducing family)
Mā yahā̃ hai. (Introducing family)
Family Gender Map
Masculine
- pitā father
- bhāī brother
Feminine
- mātā mother
- bahan sister
Gender Agreement Grid
Masculine
- • Merā bhāī
- • Acchā pitā
Feminine
- • Merī bahan
- • Achī mātā
Examples by Level
Merī mātā achī haĩ.
My mother is good.
Merā bhāī chhoṭā hai.
My brother is small.
Yeh merī bahan hai.
This is my sister.
Mere pitā kahā̃ haĩ?
Where is my father?
Merī mātā jī khānā banā rahī haĩ.
My mother is cooking food.
Mere bhāī ko kām hai.
My brother has work.
Kyā āpke pitā jī ghar par haĩ?
Is your father at home?
Merī bahan bahut hoshiyār hai.
My sister is very smart.
Mere baṛe bhāī dilli mẽ rahte haĩ.
My older brother lives in Delhi.
Merī choṭī bahan ko gānā pasand hai.
My younger sister likes singing.
Pitā jī ne mujhe ek kitāb dī.
Father gave me a book.
Mātā jī ne khānā banāyā.
Mother cooked the food.
Mere pitā jī ke liye yeh upahār hai.
This gift is for my father.
Merī mātā jī kī salāh bahut kīmtī hai.
My mother's advice is very valuable.
Mere bhāī ko naukrī mil gaī.
My brother got a job.
Merī bahan kī shādī agle mahīne hai.
My sister's wedding is next month.
Mere pitā jī kī vajah se main yahā̃ hū̃.
I am here because of my father.
Merī mātā jī kī āvāz mẽ ek alag jādū hai.
There is a unique magic in my mother's voice.
Mere bhāī ne mujhe hameshā sahārā diyā hai.
My brother has always supported me.
Merī bahan kī safaltā par mujhe garv hai.
I am proud of my sister's success.
Mere pitā jī ke ādarshon ne merā jīvan badal diyā.
My father's ideals changed my life.
Merī mātā jī kī tyāg kī kahānī adbhut hai.
The story of my mother's sacrifice is amazing.
Mere bhāī kī kārkardagī sarāhnīya hai.
My brother's performance is commendable.
Merī bahan kī vidvatā sabko prabhāvit kartī hai.
My sister's scholarship impresses everyone.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up singular and plural/honorific possessives.
Learners forget the nasalization for honorifics.
Mixing up gender markers.
Common Mistakes
Merā bahan
Merī bahan
Merī bhāī
Merā bhāī
Pitā hai
Pitā haĩ
Mātā acchā hai
Mātā achī hai
Mere pitā jī ā raha hai
Mere pitā jī ā rahe haĩ
Merī mātā jī ke liye
Merī mātā jī ke liye (correct, but check case)
Mere bhāī ko khānā
Mere bhāī ke liye khānā
Mere baṛe bhāī rahtā hai
Mere baṛe bhāī rahte haĩ
Merī bahan kī shādī
Merī bahan kī shādī
Mere pitā jī ne kahā
Mere pitā jī ne kahā
Mere pitā jī kī ādarsh
Mere pitā jī ke ādarsh
Merī mātā jī kī tyāg
Merī mātā jī kā tyāg
Mere bhāī kī kārkardagī
Mere bhāī kī kārkardagī
Sentence Patterns
Merā/Merī ___ acchā/acchī hai.
Mere ___ jī ___ kar rahe haĩ.
Merī ___ kī shādī ___ ko hai.
Mere ___ ke liye yeh ___ hai.
Real World Usage
Merī mātā jī ke sāth ek sundar din!
Bhāī, ā rahā hū̃.
Mere pitā jī ek shikshak haĩ.
Yeh merī bahan ke liye ticket hai.
Mātā jī ke liye khānā.
Mere sab bhāī yahā̃ haĩ.
Listen for the -ā/-ī
Don't forget the dot
Use 'jī' liberally
Family first
Smart Tips
Always use the honorific plural verb 'haĩ'.
Match the possessive to the noun, not the person.
Add 'jī' to show respect.
Specify older/younger for clarity.
Pronunciation
Nasalization
The 'ĩ' in 'haĩ' is nasalized.
Statement
Merā bhāī acchā hai. ↘
Falling intonation for statements.
Question
Kyā merā bhāī acchā hai? ↗
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember: 'A' for 'A' (Masculine ends in ā, so use merā/acchā). 'I' for 'I' (Feminine ends in ī, so use merī/acchī).
Visual Association
Imagine a boy wearing a hat shaped like an 'A' (masculine) and a girl wearing a dress shaped like an 'I' (feminine).
Rhyme
Masculine is ā, feminine is ī, keep them straight and you'll be free!
Story
My brother (bhāī) is tall (lambā). My sister (bahan) is short (choṭī). My father (pitā) is strong (mazbūt). I introduce them all with pride.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about your family members using the correct gender markers.
Cultural Notes
Respect for elders is paramount. Always use 'jī' and plural verbs.
Often adopt local honorifics alongside Hindi ones.
More likely to use 'Mummy/Papa' instead of 'Mātā/Pitā'.
Hindi kinship terms are derived from Sanskrit.
Conversation Starters
Āpke pitā jī kyā karte haĩ?
Kyā āpkā bhāī yahā̃ hai?
Āpke parivār mẽ kaun-kaun hai?
Parivār kī ahmiyat āpke liye kyā hai?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ (My) bhāī acchā hai.
Mere pitā jī ghar ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Merā bahan acchī hai.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use: Pitā, jī, ā, rahe, haĩ
Merī mātā jī ___ haĩ.
___ (Your - formal) pitā jī kahā̃ haĩ?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ (My) bhāī acchā hai.
Mere pitā jī ghar ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
Merā bahan acchī hai.
hai / bahan / merī / acchī
Match: Mātā, Bhāī
Use: Pitā, jī, ā, rahe, haĩ
Merī mātā jī ___ haĩ.
___ (Your - formal) pitā jī kahā̃ haĩ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesमेरी बहन ___ है। (My sister is small/young.)
My father is a teacher.
है | बहन | मेरी | घर | पर
Match gender and noun:
How would you call your mom at home?
मेरा बहन अच्छी है।
पिता जी ___ रहे हैं। (Father is eating.)
Choose one:
My sister is on Instagram.
भाई | मेरा | है | कहाँ
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It's an honorific plural used to show respect to elders.
No, 'mā' or 'mummy' are also common.
Look at the ending. -ā is usually masculine, -ī is usually feminine.
No, you must use 'merī' because 'bahan' is feminine.
'Bhaiyā' is a more affectionate or informal term.
Because of the honorific system in Hindi.
It's highly recommended for parents and elders.
Āpkā bhāī kaun hai?
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Mi madre/padre
Hindi requires honorific verb agreement for parents.
Ma mère/Mon père
Hindi has a more complex honorific system.
Meine Mutter/Mein Vater
Hindi gender is often tied to the noun ending.
Haha/Chichi
Hindi doesn't change the noun itself based on the listener.
Ummī/Abī
Hindi gender is more predictable for kinship.
Māma/Bàba
Hindi requires strict gender and honorific agreement.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
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