Kinship Terms

Kraus

Senior Member
Italian, Italy
Which are the kinship terms in your language?

Here's an English-Italian list:

mother - madre
father - padre
son - figlio
daughter - figlia

uncle - zio
aunt - zia
nephew - nipote
niece - nipote

brother - fratello
sister - sorella
(first, second) cousin - cugino, cugina (di primo grado, di secondo grado)

cousin once removed - cugino di secondo grado (cugino della madre/del padre, cugino del figlio/della figlia)

grandmother - nonna
grandfather - nonno
grandson - nipote
granddaughter - nipote

(Note that nipote is both male and female and means nephew, niece, grandson and granddaughter at the same time)

mother-in-law = suocera
father-in-law = suocero
brother-in-law = genero
daughter-in-law = nuora
brother-in-law = cognato
sister-in-law = cognata
 
  • In French:

    mother - mère
    father - père
    son - fils
    daughter - fille

    uncle - oncle
    aunt - tante
    nephew - neveu
    niece - nièce

    brother - frère
    sister - soeur
     
    Hello Kraus,

    Do you mind if I add some entries to your French list?

    (first, second) cousin - cousin / cousine
    grandmother - grand-mère
    grandfather - grand-père
    grandson - petit-fils
    granddaughter - petite-fille
    grandparents - grands-parents
    grandchildren - petits-enfants
    mother-in-law -belle-mère (also stepmother)
    father-in-law = beau-père (also stepfather)
    brother-in-law = gendre
    daughter-in-law = belle-fille / bru
    brother-in-law = beau-frère
    sister-in-law = belle-soeur
     
    English-Italian-Romanian

    mother - madre - mamă
    father - padre - tată
    son - figlio - fiu
    daughter - figlia - fiică

    uncle - zio - unchi
    aunt - zia - mătuşă
    nephew - nipote - nepot
    niece - nipote - nepoată

    brother - fratello - frate
    sister - sorella - soră
    (first, second) cousin - cugino, cugina - văr, vară

    cousin once removed - cugino di secondo grado - văr de gradul al doilea
    grandmother - nonna - bunică
    grandfather - nonno - bunic
    grandson - nipote - strănepot
    granddaughter - nipote - strănepoată


    mother-in-law = suocera - soacră
    father-in-law = suocero - socru
    son-in-law = genero - ginere
    daughter-in-law = nuora - noră
    brother-in-law = cognato - cumnat
    sister-in-law = cognata - cumnată
     
    English-Italian-Romanian

    mother - madre - mamă
    father - padre - tată
    son - figlio - fiu
    daughter - figlia - fiică

    uncle - zio - unchi
    aunt - zia - mătuşă
    nephew - nipote - nepot
    niece - nipote - nepoată

    brother - fratello - frate
    sister - sorella - soră
    (first, second) cousin - cugino, cugina - văr, vară

    cousin once removed - cugino di secondo grado - văr de gradul al doilea
    grandmother - nonna - bunică
    grandfather - nonno - bunic
    grandson - nipote - strănepot
    granddaughter - nipote - strănepoată


    mother-in-law = suocera - soacră
    father-in-law = suocero - socru
    brother-in-law = genero - ginere
    daughter-in-law = nuora - noră
    brother-in-law = cognato - cumnat
    sister-in-law = cognata - cumnată

    What about mamaie (grandmother) and tataie (grandfather)? They're quite usual aren't they?

    :) robbie
     
    English-Spanish:

    mother - madre
    father - padre
    son - hijo
    daughter - hija

    uncle - tío
    aunt - tía
    nephew - sobrino
    niece - sobrina

    brother - hermano
    sister - hermana
    cousin - primo/prima
    first cousin - primo, primo hermano, primo carnal
    second cousin - primo, primo segundo (after this we continue with the other ordinals).

    grandmother - abuela
    grandfather - abuelo
    grandson - nieto
    granddaughter - nieta

    mother-in-law = suegra
    father-in-law = suegro
    brother-in-law = yerno
    daughter-in-law = nuera
    brother-in-law = cuñado
    sister-in-law = cuñada
     
    In Serbian:

    mother - majka, mati
    father - otac
    son - sin
    daughter - ćerka, kći

    uncle (mother's brother) - ujak
    uncle (father's brother) - stric
    uncle (husband of your father's / mother's sister) - teča

    aunt (mother's or father's sister) - tetka
    aunt (wife of your mother's brother) - ujna
    aunt (wife of your mother's brother) - strina

    nephew (sister's son) - sestrić
    nephew (your brother's son if you are male) - sinovac
    nephew (your brother's son, both if you are male or female) - bratanac

    niece (sister's daughter) - sestričina
    niece (your brother's daughter if you are male) - sinovica
    niece (your brother's daughter, both if you are male or female) - bratanica
    for the rest of it seen in brother-in-law and sister-in-law part

    brother - brat
    sister - sestra

    cousin, first cousin, second cousin - this part is too complicated. We usually say brother/sister of ... (aunt, uncle... whatever, sometimes it's very descriptive).

    grandmother - baba
    grandgrandmother - prababa
    gggmother - čukunbaba
    ggggmother - navrnbaba

    granddaughter - unuka
    ggdaughter - praunuka
    gggdaughter - čukununuka
    ggggdaughter (see ggggson)

    grandfather - deda
    ggfather - pradeda
    gggfather - čukundeda
    ggggfather - navrndeda
    gggggfather - kurdjel, kunđel
    ggggggfather - askurdjel, askurđel
    gggggggfather - sukurov, kurajber
    ggggggggfather - beli orao (literally "white eagle")

    grandson - unuk
    ggson - praunuk
    gggson - čukununuk
    ggggson - bela pčela (lit. "white bee")
    note: some of these terms may fary from area to area, I am giving examples from where I live

    mother-in-law (husband's mother) - svekrva
    mother-in-law (wife's mother) - tašta
    father-in-law (husband's father) - svekar
    father-in-law (wife's father) - tast

    brother-in-law (your sister's husband) - zet
    brother-in-law (your wife's brother) - šurak
    brother-in-law (your husband's brother) - dever
    brother-in-law (husband of your husband's sister) - zet
    brother-in-law (husband of your wife's sister) - pašenog (this relation is mutual, logically)

    sister-in-law (your brother's wife) - snaha
    sister-in-law (your wife's sister) - svastika
    sister-in-law (your husband's sister) - zaova
    sister-in-law - (wife of your wife's brother) - šurnjaja
    sister-in-law (wife of your husband's brother) - jetrva (a mutual relationship)

    so there are some additional nieces and nephews: zaovičina/zaović, deveričina/deveričić, svastičina/svastić.

    daughter-in-law = snaha
    son-in-law = zet
     
    Finnish:

    mother - äiti
    father - isä
    son - poika
    daughter - tytär

    uncle (father's brother) - setä
    uncle (mother's brother) - eno
    aunt - täti
    nephew (brother's daughter) - veljentytär
    nephew (sister's daughter) - sisarentytär
    niece (brother's son) - veljenpoika
    niece (sister's son) - sisarenpoika

    brother - veli
    sister - sisar
    (first) cousin - serkku
    second cousin - pikkuserkku

    cousin once removed - serkun lapsi

    grandmother - isoäiti
    grandfather - isoisä
    grandson (daughter's son) - tyttärenpoika
    grandson (son's son) - pojanpoika
    granddaughter (daughter's daughter) - tyttärentytär
    granddaughter (son's daughter) - pojantytär

    mother-in-law = anoppi
    father-in-law = appi
    son-in-law = vävy
    daughter-in-law = miniä
    brother-in-law = lanko
    sister-in-law = käly
     
    Just to add some "great" in Spanish:
    great-grandparents: bisabuelos
    great-great-grandparents: tatarabuelos

    great-aunt: tía abuela
    great-uncle: tío abuelo

    great-grandchildren: bisnietos

    You can simply substitute the o to a to make it feminine.

    In Romanian:
    great-grandfather: Străbunic
    great-grandmother: Străbunică
    great-grandparents: Strabunici
     
    English-Italian-Romanian-Portuguese

    mother - madre - mamă - mãe
    father - padre - tată - pai
    son - figlio - fiu - filho
    daughter - figlia - fiică - filha

    uncle - zio - unchi - tio
    aunt - zia - mătuşă - tia
    nephew - nipote - nepot - sobrinho
    niece - nipote - nepoată - sobrinha

    brother - fratello - frate - irmão
    sister - sorella - soră - irmã
    (first, second) cousin - cugino, cugina - văr, vară - primo, prima

    cousin once removed - cugino di secondo grado - văr de gradul al doilea - primo de segundo grau
    grandmother - nonna - bunică - avó
    grandfather - nonno - bunic - avô
    grandson - nipote - strănepot - neto
    granddaughter - nipote - strănepoată - neta

    [English-Portuguese]
    ggrandmother - bisavó
    ggrandfather - bisavô
    ggrandson - bisneto
    ggranddaughter - bisneta
    gggrandmother - trisavó
    gggrandfather - trisavô
    gggrandson - trineto
    gggranddaughter - trineta
    ggggrandmother - tataravó or tetravó
    ggggrandfather - tataravô or tetravô
    ggggrandson - tataraneto or tetraneto
    ggggranddaughter - tataraneta or tetraneta

    mother-in-law = suocera - soacră - sogra
    father-in-law = suocero - socru - sogro
    son-in-law = genero - ginere - genro
    daughter-in-law = nuora - noră - nora
    brother-in-law = cognato - cumnat - cunhado
    sister-in-law = cognata - cumnată[/quote] - cunhada
     
    Which are the kinship terms in your language?

    Here's an English-Italian list:

    mother - madre
    father - padre
    son - figlio
    daughter - figlia

    uncle - zio
    aunt - zia
    nephew - nipote
    niece - nipote

    brother - fratello
    sister - sorella
    (first, second) cousin - cugino, cugina (di primo grado, di secondo grado)

    cousin once removed - cugino di secondo grado (cugino della madre/del padre, cugino del figlio/della figlia)

    grandmother - nonna
    grandfather - nonno
    grandson - nipote
    granddaughter - nipote

    (Note that nipote is both male and female and means nephew, niece, grandson and granddaughter at the same time)

    wife = moglie
    husband = marito

    mother-in-law = suocera
    father-in-law = suocero
    brother-in-law = genero
    daughter-in-law = nuora
    brother-in-law = cognato
    sister-in-law = cognata[/quote]
     
    Turkish

    mother - anne
    father - baba
    son - oğul, oğlan
    daughter - kız

    uncle - dayı (maternal), amca (paternal)
    aunt - teyze (maternal), hala (paternal)
    nephew - yeğen
    niece - yeğen (for both)

    brother - erkek kardeş
    big brother - ağabey
    sister - kız kardeş
    big sister - abla
    cousin - kuzen

    grandmother - büyük anne, anneanne, kadınnine (mother's), nine, babaanne (father's)
    grandfather - büyük baba (mother's), dede (father's)
    grandson - erkek torun
    granddaughter - kız torun

    mother-in-law - kaynana, kayınvalide
    father-in-law - kaynata, kayınbaba, kayınpeder
    son-in-law - damat
    daughter-in-law - gelin
    brother-in-law - kayınbirader, kayınço, ini
    sister-in-law - baldız

    granduncle - büyük dayı (mother's), büyük amca (father's)
    grandaunt - büyük teyze (mother's), büyük hala (father's)

    wife - karı
    husband - koca
     
    English-Basque (Euskera Batua):

    mother - ama
    father - aita
    son - seme
    daughter - alaba

    uncle - osaba
    aunt - izeba
    nephew - loba, iloba
    niece - loba, iloba (see also grandson/daughter below)

    brother - anaia (a brother's brother); neba (a sister's brother)
    sister - arreba (a brother's sister); ahizpa (a sister's sister)
    brothers and sisters (both sexes) - nebarrebak
    sibling - haurride
    cousin - lehengusu

    grandmother - amona, amama ... (many others)
    grandfather - aitona, aitita ... (many others)
    grandson - iloba, biloba
    granddaughter - iloba, biloba (see also nephew/niece above)
    great grandfather - berraitona
    great grandmother - berramona
    great great grandfather - herenaitona
    great great grandmother - herenamona

    mother-in-law - amaginarreba
    father-in-law - aitaginarreba
    son-in-law - suhi
    daughter-in-law - errain
    brother-in-law - koinatu (borrowed from Spanish)
    sister-in-law - koinata (borrowed from Spanish)
     
    Here's English-Malay:

    mother - emak, ibu (more formal)
    father - abah or ayah, bapa (formal)
    son - anak lelaki (literally male offspring)
    daughter - anak perempuan (literally female offspring)

    uncle - bapa saudara (literally kin's father)
    aunt - mak saudara (literally kin's mother)
    nephew - anak saudara
    niece - anak saudara

    brother - abang (if older), adik (if younger)
    sister - kakak (if older), adik (if younger)
    (first, second) cousin - saudara or sepupu

    cousin once removed - no equivalent term in Malay that I'm aware of

    grandmother - nenek
    grandfather - datuk
    grandson - cucu (pronounced 'choo-choo' as in a train's sound in English)
    granddaughter - cucu

    mother-in-law = ibu mertua
    father-in-law = bapa mertua
    brother-in-law = abang ipar
    daughter-in-law = kakak ipar
    younger brother- or sister-in-law = adik ipar
     
    Urdu

    mother - Mân (n is nasal)
    father - bâp
    son - BêTa
    daughter - BêTi

    uncle (father's elder brother) tâyâ
    uncle (father's younger brother) Chachâ
    uncle (mother's brother) Mâmû
    aunt - (father's sister): Phupphû
    aunt (mother's sister): Khâlâ

    nephew (brother's son) Bhatîjâ
    nephew (sister's son) Bhânjâ
    niece (brother's daughter) Bhatîjî
    niece (sister's daugther) Bhânji


    brother - (Sagâ) Bhâî
    big brother - BaRâ Bhâî
    sister - Behn
    big sister - Bâjî
    cousin - (Chachâzâd / Mâmûzâd) Bhâî (m.) Behn (f.)

    grandmother - (paternal): Dâdî
    grandmother - (maternal): Nânî
    grandfather - (paternal): Dâdâ
    grandfather - (maternal): Nânâ
    grandson - (father side) pota
    grandson - (mother side) nawâsâ
    granddaughter - (father side) pôtî
    granddaughter - (mother side) nawâsî

    mother-in-law = sâs
    father-in-law = susar
    Son-in-law : dâmâd
    Daughter-in-law: bahû
    etc...
     
    Urdu (continued)...

    Brother-in-law (husband's elder brother): JêTh
    Brother-in-law (husband's brother): Dêvar
    Brother-in-law (wife's brother) : Sâlâ
    Sister-in-law (husband's sister): Nand
    Sister-in-law (wife's sister): Sâli

    Brother-in-law (sister's husband): Behnôî
    Sister-in-law (brother's wife): Bhâbî / Bhâwaj

    and there are other words for brothers and sisters in law, like:

    Sister-in-law: JêThânî, wife of your husband's elder brother (Jêth)
    Sister-in-law: Dêvrâni, wife of your husband's younger brother (Dêvar)...
    Brother-in-law: Nandoî, husband of your husband's sister (Nand)

    etc...
     
    There is a lot of variation in Malayalam - people use many different names for their relatives. I've just listed a fairly standard set (a few of the terms are slightly formal, but I didn't want to get into the many casual forms):
    അച്ഛന് (acchan) : father
    അമ്മ (amma) : mother
    ജ്യേഷ്ഠന് (jyēṣṭhan) : elder brother
    ജ്യേഷ്ഠത്തി (jyēṣṭhatti) : elder sister / sister in law
    അനുജന് (anujan) : younger brother
    അനുജത്തി (anujatti) : younger sister
    അമ്മാവന് (ammāvan) : mother's brother
    അമ്മാവി (ammāvi) : mother's brother's wife
    വലിയച്ചന് (valiyacchan) : father's elder brother
    വലിയമ്മ (valiyamma) : father's elder brother's wife
    I'll post more later.
     
    Here's an English-Czech list:

    mother = matka (less formal form: máma; diminutives: maminka, mamka)
    father = otec (less formal form: táta, diminutive: tatínek)
    son = syn (dim.: synek, synáček)
    daughter = dcera (dim.: dceruška, dcerunka)

    uncle = strýc (dim.: strýček, strejda)
    aunt = teta (dim.: tetička)
    nephew = synovec
    niece = neteř

    brother = bratr (dim.: brácha, bráška)
    sister = sestra (dim.: sestřička)
    cousin = m. bratranec, f. sestřenice (dim.: m. bratránek, f. sestřenka)

    grandmother = babička (in fact a diminutive; however, original "bába" or "baba" is considered rude today)
    grandfather = děd (dim.: děda, dědeček)
    grandson = vnuk (dim.: vnouček)
    granddaughter = vnučka
    grandchildren = vnouče (sg.), vnoučata (pl.)
    great-grandfather = praděd
    great-grand(...) = pra(...)

    mother-in-law = tchyně
    father-in-law = tchán
    son-in-law = zeť
    daughter-in-law = snacha
    brother-in-law = švagr
    sister-in-law = švagrová

    Some generic terms too:

    family = rodina
    relatives = příbuzenstvo
    offspring = potomek
    ancestors = předci, předkové
    descendants = potomci, potomstvo
     
    Hello I'll tell you my kinship in Arabic

    mother - Omi
    father - Abi
    son - Ibn
    daughter - Ibna

    uncle - AM for the father's brother and Khal for the mother's broher
    aunt - Ama for the father's sister and Khala for the mother's siter
    nephew - Ibn el akh
    niece - ibnat el okht

    brother - Akh
    sister - Okht
    (first, second) cousin - Ibn el Am or Ibn el khal


    grandmother - Jadati
    grandfather - jadi
    grandson - Hafid
    granddaughter - hafida


    mother-in-law = hamet
    father-in-law = hama
     
    Do you hear more /maa.n/ and /baap/ for /amii/ and /abuu/, respectively?

    Urdu

    mother - Mân (n is nasal)
    father - bâp
    son - BêTa
    daughter - BêTi

    uncle (father's elder brother) tâyâ
    uncle (father's younger brother) Chachâ
    uncle (mother's brother) Mâmû
    aunt - (father's sister): Phupphû
    aunt (mother's sister): Khâlâ

    nephew (brother's son) Bhatîjâ
    nephew (sister's son) Bhânjâ
    niece (brother's daughter) Bhatîjî
    niece (sister's daugther) Bhânji


    brother - (Sagâ) Bhâî
    big brother - BaRâ Bhâî
    sister - Behn
    big sister - Bâjî
    cousin - (Chachâzâd / Mâmûzâd) Bhâî (m.) Behn (f.)

    grandmother - (paternal): Dâdî
    grandmother - (maternal): Nânî
    grandfather - (paternal): Dâdâ
    grandfather - (maternal): Nânâ
    grandson - (father side) pota
    grandson - (mother side) nawâsâ
    granddaughter - (father side) pôtî
    granddaughter - (mother side) nawâsî

    mother-in-law = sâs
    father-in-law = susar
    Son-in-law : dâmâd
    Daughter-in-law: bahû
    etc...
     
    Do you hear more /maa.n/ and /baap/ for /amii/ and /abuu/, respectively?

    No! You are right, ammî and abbû are heard all the time and Mân and Bâp are rare and only used in expressions... I however felt that the proper word for the relationship would be mân : bâp not ammî : abbû...

    Mân and Bâp are a bit more formal too... So people will not only address their parents by ammî / abbû, but will refer to them thus... Merî ammî keh rahî thî...

    I would even say that Pâpâ and Mâmâ are more common than Mân / Bâp...

    By the way, I noticed that so far in this forum Urdu / Hindi is the richest language in terms of kinship vocabulary... I found no word to translate the relation samdhî / samdhan in any other languages, athough I had started two threads on this topic... I am sure some other Asiatic languages must have them!
     
    I've always found it quite odd and fascinating that my friends who are from just across the border always used different words for mother and father, even though we arguably spoke the same language on a day to day basis.

    I've actually always had an opposite idea with the word/baap/; I've always been taught that it is a bit crude and informal. I can't think of a context where I'd use it. /maa.n/, on the other hand, is just filled to the brim with emotion (for me at least), and I can't think of another word which better incapsulates love, familiarity, and my mother better. The words that I use for my parents are /maa.n/ or (aur!) /mammi/ (and somewhere contextually interspersed, mom) and /paapaa/, sometimes followed by a /jii/ (marker of respect) depending on my mood.

    The real pure Panjabi words for mother and father are /jhaaii/ or /bebe/ and /baapuu/ or /pio/. I'd use those words in jest because they are not apart of my lexicon or comfort base.

    Panjabi is also quite rich in kinship vocabulary, mainly due to the fact that it has (too) many dialects, and so there are often choices. I'll post some later.
     
    I've always found it quite odd and fascinating that my friends who are from just across the border always used different words for mother and father, even though we arguably spoke the same language on a day to day basis.

    I've actually always had an opposite idea with the word/baap/; I've always been taught that it is a bit crude and informal. I can't think of a context where I'd use it. /maa.n/, on the other hand, is just filled to the brim with emotion (for me at least), and I can't think of another word which better incapsulates love, familiarity, and my mother better. The words that I use for my parents are /maa.n/ or (aur!) /mammi/ (and somewhere contextually interspersed, mom) and /paapaa/, sometimes followed by a /jii/ (marker of respect) depending on my mood.

    The real pure Panjabi words for mother and father are /jhaaii/ or /bebe/ and /baapuu/ or /pio/. I'd use those words in jest because they are not apart of my lexicon or comfort base.

    Panjabi is also quite rich in kinship vocabulary, mainly due to the fact that it has (too) many dialects, and so there are often choices. I'll post some later.

    You are perfectly right I think when you describe the pair maaN / baap. Baap is not necessarily always bad, but it is almost never used in positive contexts etc...

    The pure Punjabi you're talking of, I guesss, is like here, in PK, mainly spoken in villages and / or middle-sized peripheral cities...

    On the other hand, I've heard a lot ammaaN and abbaa too. And you must know that in a more formal context, or out of respect, one would use vaalid and vaaldaa, most of the time followed by saahib or saahiba...

    I would be very pleased if you'd mention a few kinship terms in your Punjabi (which Punjabi is it, by the way, which area????). I myself mentioned the term Bhaawaj for Bhaabhii, but I'm pretty much sure it is Siraiki...

    The Punjabi I can hear here wouldn't have too many differences with Urdu... Maasii would be used instead of Khaalaa and a few other changes.

    There is also this word in Urdu: Hamzulf for the mutual relationship between husbands of the same sisters...

    :)
     
    English - Tagalog here (the phrases in parentheses are not often used)

    mother - nanay
    father - tatay
    son - anak (na lalaki)
    daughter - anak (na babae)

    uncle - tito
    aunt - tita
    nephew - pamangkin (-g lalaki; -g here is a suffix to the pamangkin word)
    niece - pamangkin (-g babae)

    brother - kapatid (na lalaki)
    sister - kapatid (na babae)
    (first, second) cousin - pinsan

    cousin once removed - I have no idea what this is

    grandmother - lola
    grandfather - lolo
    grandchild - apo
    great grandmother - lola sa noo (literally means, grandmother in forehead)
    great grandfather - lolo sa noo (grandfather in forehead)
    great grandchild - apo sa tuhod (literally means, grandchild in knee)

    mother-in-law - biyenan (-g babae)
    father-in-law - biyenan (-g lalaki)
    brother-in-law - bayaw
    sister-in-law - hipag
    son-in-law - manugang (na lalaki)
    daughter-in-law - manugang (na babae)

    the spouse of your spouse's brother/sister - bilas
     
    Here's on Bulgarian:

    family - semeistvo
    mother - maika
    father - bashta
    daughter - d'shteria
    son - sin

    wife - sapruga
    husband - saprug

    uncle - chicho
    aunt - lelia
    nephew - plemenik
    niece - plemenica

    brother - brat
    sister - sestra
    older brother - bate
    older sister - kaka
    cousins - bratovchedi

    grandmother - baba
    grandfather - dedo
    grandson - vnuk
    granddaughter - vnuchka

    mother-in-law = svekarva
    father-in-law = svekar
    brother-in-law = bajanak
    son-in-law = zet
    daughter-in-law = snaha

    wife's mother - t'shta
    wife's father - t'st
    husband's brother - devar

    Distance is added with pra-
     
    Hi!

    Here's the English-Dutch list:

    mother - moeder
    father - vader
    son - zoon
    daughter - dochter

    uncle - oom/nonkel (that's 'uncle' in Flemish, the language spoken in northern Belgium)
    aunt - tante
    nephew - neef
    niece - nicht

    brother - broer
    sister - zus

    grandmother - grootmoeder
    grandfather - grootvader
    grandson - kleinzoon
    granddaughter - kleindochter


    mother-in-law = schoonmoeder
    father-in-law = schoonvader
    brother-in-law = schoonbroer
    daughter-in-law = schoondochter
    son-in-law = schoonzoon
    sister-in-law = schoonzus
     
    In Persian:

    mother : mādar مادر
    father : pedar پدر
    son : pesar پسر
    daughter : doxtar دختر

    paternal uncle : amū عمو
    maternal uncle : dāyī دایی
    paternal aunt : amme عمه
    maternal aunt : xāle خاله
    brother : barādar برادر
    sister : xāhar خواهر

    grandmother : mādar-bozorg مادر بزرگ
    grandfather : pedar-bozorg پدر بزرگ
    grandson/granddaughter : nave or nabīre نوه، نبیره
    great-grandfather : pedar-jad پدرجد
    great-grandmother : mādar-jad مادرجد


    brother-in-law : bājenāq باجناق
    bridegroom : dāmād داماد

    The rest of the "-in-law" compounds are formed by suffixing -zan (wife) or -šowhar (husband) to the approriate noun, for example:

    sister-in-law (wife's sister) : xāhar-zan خواهرزن
    sister-in-law (husband's sister) : xāhar-šowhar خواهرشوهر

    Non biological kinship ("step-" compounds in English) is indicated by prefixing "nā-" and suffixing "-ī" to the appropriate word or simply through the adjective "nātanī",ناتنی, for exemple:

    stepmother : nāmādarī نامادری, mādar-e nātanī مادرناتنی


    I'll post the rest later!
     
    Last edited:
    You are perfectly right I think when you describe the pair maaN / baap. Baap is not necessarily always bad, but it is almost never used in positive contexts etc...

    The pure Punjabi you're talking of, I guesss, is like here, in PK, mainly spoken in villages and / or middle-sized peripheral cities...

    On the other hand, I've heard a lot ammaaN and abbaa too. And you must know that in a more formal context, or out of respect, one would use vaalid and vaaldaa, most of the time followed by saahib or saahiba...

    I would be very pleased if you'd mention a few kinship terms in your Punjabi (which Punjabi is it, by the way, which area????). I myself mentioned the term Bhaawaj for Bhaabhii, but I'm pretty much sure it is Siraiki...

    The Punjabi I can hear here wouldn't have too many differences with Urdu... Maasii would be used instead of Khaalaa and a few other changes.

    There is also this word in Urdu: Hamzulf for the mutual relationship between husbands of the same sisters...

    :)

    <bhaawaj> is definitely Siraiki. They also say <barjhaa'ii>, which I'm sure you've heard.
     
    Thank you all for your posts and merry Christmas! :)

    In Russian:

    mother : мать, мама
    father : отец, папа
    son : сын
    daughter : дочь

    uncle : дядя
    aunt : тётя
    brother : брат
    sister : сестра

    grandmother : бабушка
    grandfather : дедушка
    grandson : внук
    granddaughter : внучка

     
    Hi!

    Here's the English-Dutch list:

    mother - moeder
    father - vader
    son - zoon
    daughter - dochter

    uncle - oom/nonkel (that's 'uncle' in Flemish, the language spoken in northern Belgium)
    aunt - tante
    nephew - neef
    niece - nicht

    brother - broer
    sister - zus

    grandmother - grootmoeder
    grandfather - grootvader
    grandson - kleinzoon
    granddaughter - kleindochter


    mother-in-law = schoonmoeder
    father-in-law = schoonvader
    brother-in-law = schoonbroer
    daughter-in-law = schoondochter
    son-in-law = schoonzoon
    sister-in-law = schoonzus
    I would like to add a few things.

    grandmother - grootmoeder
    ggrandmother - overgrootmoeder
    gggrandmother - betovergrootmoeder
    ggggrandmother - oudmoeder

    grandfather - grootvader
    ggrandfather - overgrootvader
    gggrandfather - betovergrootvader
    ggggrandfather - oudvader

    grandson - kleinzoon
    ggrandson - achterkleinzoon
    gggrandson - betachterkleinzoon

    granddaughter - kleindochter
    ggranddaughter - achterkleindochter
    gggranddaughter - betachterkleindochter

    brother-in-law = called "zwager" in The Netherlands

    great aunt - oudtante
    great uncle - oudoom
     
    English-German:

    mother - Mutter
    father - Vater
    son - Sohn
    daughter - Tochter

    uncle - Onkel
    aunt - Tante
    great uncle - Großonkel
    great aunt - Großtante
    nephew - Neffe
    niece - Nichte
    If you want to refer specifically to relatives from the father's or mother's side you can use for all terms for which this applies:
    uncle from mother's side - Onkel mütterlicherseits
    aunt from father's side - Tante väterlicherseits
    (etc.)

    brother - Bruder
    sister - Schwester
    brothers and sisters - Geschwister
    (first, second) cousin - Cousin, Cousine [pronounced the 'French' way only in Austria; in Germany 'Cousin > Kuseng' also is widely used] (ersten, zweiten Grades); old-fashioned: Vetter (rarely used, and if then sometimes meaning 'distant relative' rather than cousin), Base (hardly used ever; sometimes also used for 'Tante')
    cousin once removed - Cousin des Vaters/der Mutter (Cousin zweiten Grades)

    grandmother - Großmutter, Oma
    grandfather - Großvater, Opa
    grandson - Enkel (Enkelsohn)
    granddaughter - Enkel (Enkeltochter; also hypercorect: Enkelin)

    mother-in-law = Schwiegermutter
    father-in-law = Schwiegervater
    brother-in-law = Schwager
    sister-in-law = Schwägerin
    son-in-law = Schwiegersohn
    daughter-in-law = Schwiegertochter

    stepfather - Stiefvater
    stepmother - Stiefmutter
    stepchild (stepson, stepdaughter) - Stiefkind (Stiefsohn, Stieftochter)
     
    Hebrew

    mother - אמא (ima)
    father - אבא (aba)
    son - בן (Ben)
    daughter - בת (bat)

    uncle - דוד (dod)
    aunt - דודה (doda)
    nephew - אחיין (akhyan)
    niece - אחיינית (akhyanit)

    brother - אח (akh)
    sister - אחות (akhot)

    cousin - בן דוד (ben dod) (m)
    cousin - בת דודה (bat doda) (f)

    grandmother - סבתא (savta)
    grandfather - סבא (saba)
    grandson - נכד (nekhed)
    granddaughter - נכדה (nekhda)

    great-grandfather - סבא רבה (saba raba)
    great-grandfather - סבתא רבה (savta raba)
    great-grandson - נין (nin)
    great-granddaughter - נינה (nina)

    mother-in-law = חמות (khamot)
    father-in-law = חותן (khoten)
    brother-in-law = גיס (gis)
    sister-in-law = גיסה (gisa)
    son-in-law = חתן (khatan)
    daughter-in-law = כלה (kala)

    To indicate any step-relation (stepfather, etc) - add the word חורג (khoreg) for males and חורגת (khoreget) for females
     
    Thank you SerinusCanaria3075 for letting me know I am "tía abuela" to my great-nephews and great- nieces. Now, what do I call them?
     
    Kildin Saami:

    motherēннѣ (énn)
    father – аджь (ad
    ž')
    son
    āлльк (áll'k)
    daughter – н
    ӣййт (níjjt)

    uncle (younger) – ч
    ēзда (ézda)
    uncle (mother's side, older)ӣнн (ínn)
    uncle (father's side, older) – ягк (jágk)
    aunt (younger) – м
    ӯдтѣ (múdt)
    aunt (mother's side, older) – куэсськ (kuess'k)
    aunt (father's side, older) – сӣссь (síss')

    nephew – племьнэххьк (plem'nehh'k)
    niece – племница (plemnitsa)

    brother – в
    ӣлльй (víll'j)
    sister – вуэррьпэн
    ѣ (vuerr'pen)

    cousin (girl) – вуэррьпелль (vuerr'pell')
    cousin (boy) – в
    ӣлльйпелль (víll'jpell')

    grandmother - о
    āххкь, āка (oáhhk', áka)
    grandfather
    āйй (ájj)
    grandson, granddaughter (for grandmother)
    āххкэв (áhhkev)
    grandson, granddaughter (for grandfather)āйев (ájev)

    mother-in-law - вуеннь (vuenn')
    father-in-law – в
    ӯффьп (vúff'p)



    Ingrian:

    motheremoi
    father – izä
    son
    poika
    daughter – tüär


    uncle (mother's side) – enoi
    uncle (father's side) – setä
    aunt – täti, törkkä


    nephew, niece – plemmäänikka

    brother – veikkoi, velli
    sister
    siar

    cousin – serkku


    grandmother – ämmä, akka, moori
    grandfather – äikä, ukkoi
    grandson, granddaughter – vunukka

    mother-in-law - ämmöi
    father-in-law – äcintimä

    son-in-law - vävü
    daughter-in-law - sinohha
    brother-in-law - näälä
    sister-in-law - kälü
     
    Last edited:
    In Greek:

    Mother: Μητέρα (mi'tera); less formal: Μάνα ('mana); more intimate: Μαμά (ma'ma); diminutives: Μητερούλα (mite'rula), Μανούλα (ma'nula), Mαμάκα (ma'maka).
    Father: Πατέρας (pa'teras); less formal: Μπαμπάς (bam'bas); diminutives: Πατερούλης (pate'rulis), μπαμπακούλης (bamba'kulis).
    Son: Υιός (i'os) or colloquially, γιός (ʝos); diminutive: Γιόκας ('ʝokas).
    Daughter: Κόρη ('kori); diminutive: Κορούλα (ko'rula).
    Siblings: Aδέλφια (a'ðelfça) or αδέρφια (a'ðerfça).
    Brother: Αδελφός (aðel'fos) or αδερφός (aðer'fos).
    Sister: Αδελφή ((aðel'fi) or αδερφή (aðer'fi).
    Uncle: Θείος ('θios).
    Aunt: Θεία ('θia).
    Nephew: Ανηψιός (anipsi'os); the youngest nephew: Μικρανηψιός (mikranipsi'os).
    Niece: Ανηψιά (anipsi'a); the youngest niece: Μικρανηψιά (mikranipsi'a).
    Cousin: Εξάδελφος (e'ksaðelfos) or ξάδελφος ('ksaðelfos) for masculine; Εξαδέλφη (eksa'ðelfi) or ξαδέλφη (ksa'ðelfi) for feminine.
    Cousins: Εξαδέλφια (eksa'ðelfça) or ξαδέλφια (ksa'ðelfça).
    Grandmother: Γιαγιά (ʝa'ʝa); diminutive: Γιαγιούλα (ʝa'ʝula) or γιαγιακούλα (ʝaʝa'kula)*.
    Grandfather: Παππούς (pa'pus); diminutive: Παππούλης (pa'pulis) or παππουλάκος (papu'lakos)*.
    Great-grandfather: Προπάππος (pro'papos) or προπάππους (pro'papus).
    Great-grandmother: Προγιαγιά (proʝa'ʝa).
    Great-greatgrand...: Προπρο... (propro...)
    Grandson: Εγγονός (eŋgo'nos).
    Granddaughter: Εγγονή (eŋgo'ni).
    Great-grandson: Δισέγγονος (ði'seŋgonos).
    Great-granddaughter: Δισέγγονη (ði'seŋgoni).
    Great-great-grandson: Tρισέγγονος (tri'seŋgonos).
    Great-great-granddaughter: Τρισέγγονη (tri'seŋgoni).
    Mother-in-law: Πεθερά (peθe'ra).
    Father-in-law: Πεθερός (peθe'ros).
    Son-in-law: Γαμπρός (ɣamb'ros).
    Daughter-in-law: Νύφη ('nifi).
    Brother's wife: Νύφη ('nifi).
    Sister's husband: Γαμπρός (ɣamb'ros).
    Wife's brother: Kουνιάδος (ku'ɲaðos).
    Wife's sister: Κουνιάδα (ku'ɲaða).
    The wives of two brothers: Συννυφάδες (sini'faðes).
    The husbands of two sisters: Σύγγαμβροι ('siŋɣamvri).
    Family: Οικογένεια (iko'ʝenia).
    Relatives: Συγγενείς (siɲɟe'nis).
    Offspring: Απόγονος (a'poɣonos).
    Ancestor: Πρόγονος ('proɣonos).
    Descendant: Επίγονος (e'piɣonos).

    *Regiolect.
     
    I can add some Scottish Gaelic to this. 

    Father - athair
    Mother - màthair
    Brother - bràthair
    Sister - piuthair
    Grandfather - seanair (contraction of sean-athair "old father")
    Grandmother - seanmhair (contraction of sean-mhàthair "old mother")
    For "greats" prefix sinn- (a variant of seann "old" related to sinnsear "ancestor") as many times as needed
    Grandson - ogha
    Granddaughter - ban-ogha (ban is "female")
    For "greats" prefix iar- for 1, dubh- for 2, glas- for 3 and fionn- for 4, substituting rather than adding, i.e. great-great-great-great-grandson is just fionn-ogha. The prefixes in order mean "west; back, rear," "black," "green; grey; pale" and "white, fair (of skin)" - I have no idea why they're applied to kinship terms. 

    For aunts and uncles we either use antaidh and uncail from English or specify the relationship, "aunt's sister," etc. 

    Peculiarities are a separate set of words for foster-parents and foster-children, because fosterage was a central institution in the old culture, and a special word for "(first) cousin."

    Foster-father - oide
    Foster-mother - muime
    Foster-son - dalta
    Foster-daughter - ban-dalta

    These are also used for godparents/godchildren and step-parents/children.

    Cousin - co-ogha, literally "co-grandchild" because first cousins have the same grandparents. 
     
    Please correct any mistakes that are spotted. I'm not all that big on kinship terms cos my family is pretty small. There are the more formal terms of address and the less formal ones. Where I have listed more than one term the one listed first will be the more formal one. I have only listed the more commonly used ones.

    Mandarin

    Mother
    - 母亲 mu qin, 妈妈 ma ma
    Father - 父亲 fu qin, 爸 ba ba
    Son - 儿子 er zi
    Daughter - 女儿 nü er

    Uncle (Father's elder brothers) - 伯 bo (伯父 bo fu). His wife: 伯母 bo mu
    Uncle (Father's younger brothers) - 叔 shu。 His wife: 婶 shen (婶母 shen mu),婶婶 shen shen
    Uncle (Mother's brothers) - 舅 jiu。 His wife: 舅母 jiu mu

    Aunt (Father's sisters) - 姑母 gu mu (姑妈 gu ma), 姑姑 gu gu。Her husband:姑丈 gu zhang
    Aunt (Mother's sisters) - 姨 yi。Her husband:姨丈 yi zhang
    Nephew - 侄儿 zhi er
    Niece - 侄女 zhi nv

    Brother (elder) - 兄 xiong,哥哥 ge ge
    Brother (younger) - 弟 di,弟弟 di di
    Sister (elder) - 姐 jie,姐姐 jie jie
    Sister (younger) - 妹 mei,妹妹 mei mei
    Cousin (Father's side) - 堂 tang + sibling term. e.g. Elder male cousin = 堂兄 tang xiong, 堂哥 tang ge.
    Cousin (Mother's side) - 表 biao + sibling term. e.g. Younger female cousin = 表妹 tang meiGrandmother (Father's side) - 祖母 zu mu,奶奶 nai nai.
    Grandfather (Father's side) - 祖父 zu fu,爷爷 ye ye or 公公 gong gong
    Grandmother (Mother's side) - 外祖母 wai zu mu,外婆 wai po.
    Grandfather (Mother's side) - 外祖父 wai zu fu,外公 wai gong.

    Grandson (Son of son) - 孙子 sun zi
    Grandson (Son of daughter) - 外孙 wai sun
    Granddaughter (Daughter of Son) - 孙女 sun nü
    Granddaughter (Daughter of Daughter) - 外孙女 wai sun nü
    Uncles, Aunts, siblings and other relatives where multiple people can be in the same category (eldest brother, youngest sister etc) are usually denoted with number ranks except for the eldest one which is denoted by the word for big (大 da)

    Example: In a family of 3 siblings where the siblings are ranked according to the following list:

    1) Brother : 大哥 da ge
    2) Brother : 二哥 er ge
    3) Me
     
    In Romanian:
    great-grandfather: Străbunic
    great-grandmother: Străbunică
    great-grandparents: Strabunici[/QUOTE]


    great-grandchildren: Strănepoţi
     
    I have a dear friend from Pakistan, and her mother tongue is Urdu. I understand some words in Hindi, but Urdu is different with kinship terms. Her in-laws (husband's parents) are visiting, and I would like to use the proper Urdu kinship terms for "aunty" and "uncle", especially as they are respected members of society and elderly. Can someone well versed in Urdu please advise the proper terms? I have been calling him "Uncle ji", but mixing English and Urdu doesn't sound so nice somehow. Thank you.
     
    Last edited:
    English -> Catalan

    Son, daughter - Fill, filla
    Grandson, granddaughter - Nét, neta
    Father, mother - Pare, mare
    Brother, sister - Germà, germana
    Niece, nephew - Nebot, neboda
    First cousin (second cousin...) - Cosí germà, cosina germana (cosí segon...)
    Uncle, aunt - Oncle, tia
    Grandfather, grandmother - Avi, àvia
    Brother-in-law, sister-in-law - Cunyat, cunyada
    Son-in-law, daughter-in-law - Gendre, nora
    Father-in-law, mother-in-law - Sogre, sogra

    There are a few more (i.e. your grandmother's nephew would be your oncle valencià), but these are the most usual.
     
    Please correct any mistakes that are spotted. I'm not all that big on kinship terms cos my family is pretty small. There are the more formal terms of address and the less formal ones. Where I have listed more than one term the one listed first will be the more formal one. I have only listed the more commonly used ones.
    According to Wikipedia, Chinese has the most complicated kinship terms. Every time I tried to summarize it, I got frustrated... :(
    1. There are too many dialects in Chinese.
    2. We turn to give each position different names.
    3. There written forms is often different to their spoken forms. There are formal terms and nicknames...
    4. They are flexible, for example, we can always add numbers before a relative to show his/her position...
    I think, instead of summarizing here, better go check there...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_kinship
     
    Hungarian:
    parent = szülő
    father = apa
    mother = anya
    sibling = testvér
    brother = fivér
    elder brother = báty
    younger brother = öccs
    sister = nővér (in the sense of nun, nurse, too)
    elder sister = nővér, néne
    younger sister = húg
    twin ... = iker-.
    sister's husband and wife's brother = sógor
    brother's wife and brother's wife = sógornő
    :) A man who used to fuck a woman who is now my lover. = sógor
    grandfather/mother = nagyapa/anya
    great-grandfather/mother = dédapa/anya
    ^grandparent's grandparents = ükapa/anya
    ^grandparent's great-grandparents = szépapa/anya

    grandson/daughter = unoka (in both genders)
    great-grandson/daughter = dédunoka (in both genders)
    ... dédunoka
    ... ükunoka
    ... szépunoka
    descendant in the 4³ generation = köbüki.
    MZperX.jpg MZperX is the "köbüki" of mezgageza.jpg Mézga Géza.
     
    English-Korean:

    Notes: English term - reference term, Romanized Korean - address term

    Reference term : a word used to refer someone to other people. (e.g. husband, daughter)
    Address term : a word used to call someone directly. (e.g. honey, you)

    wife - 아내 anae - 여보 yeobo
    husband - 남편 nampyeon - 여보 yeobo
    father - 아버지 abeoji, 아빠 appa (casual)
    mother - 어머니 eomeoni, 엄마 eomma (casual)
    son - 아들 adeul
    daughter - 딸 ttal
    brother
    elder brother
    (if you are male) 형 hyeong​
    (if you are female) 오빠 oppa​
    younger brother - 남동생 namdongsaeng​
    sister
    elder sister
    (if you are male) 누나 nuna​
    (if you are female) 언니 eonni​
    younger sister - 여동생 yeodongsaeng​

    grandparents
    father's father - 친할아버지 chinharabeoji​
    father's mother - 친할머니 chinhalmeoni​
    mother's father - 외할아버지 oeharabeoji​
    mother's mother - 외할머니 oehalmeoni​
    great-grandfather - 증조할아버지 jeungjoharabeoji
    great-grandmother - 증조할머니 jeungjohalmeoni
    great-great-grandfather - 고조할아버지 gojoharabeoji
    great-great-grandmother - 고조할머니 gojohalmeoni

    grandchildren
    son's son - 친손자 chinsonja​
    son's daughter - 친손녀 chinsonnyeo​
    daughter's son - 외손자 oesonja​
    daughter's daughter - 외손녀 oesonnyeo​
    great-grandson - 증손자 jeungsonja
    great-granddaughter - 증손녀 jeungsonnyeo
    great-great-grandson - 현손 hyeonson
    great-great-granddaughter - 현손녀 hyeonsonnyeo
    great-great-great-grandson - 내손 naeson
    great-great-great-great-grandson - 곤손 gonson
    great-great-great-great-great-grandson - 잉손 ingson
    great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson - 운손 unson

    uncle
    father's elder brother - 큰아버지 keunabeoji (his wife - 큰어머니 keuneomeoni)​
    father's younger brother - 작은아버지 jageunabeoji (his wife - 작은어머니 jageuneomeoni)​
    (if he is single) - 삼촌 samchon​
    mother's brother - 외삼촌 oesamchon (his wife - 외숙모 oesungmo)​
    aunt
    father's sister - 고모 gomo (her husband - 고모부 gomobu)​
    mother's sister - 이모 imo (her husband - 이모부 imobu)​
    first cousin
    father's brother's offspring - 친사촌 chinsachon​
    father's sister's offspring - 고종사촌 gojongsachon​
    mother's brother's offspring - 외사촌 oesachon​
    mother's sister's offspring - 이종사촌 ijongsachon​

    nephew (or niece) - 조카 joka
    niece - 조카딸 jokattal

    parents-in-law
    wife's father - 장인 jangin - 장인어른 jangineoreun
    wife's mother - 장모 jangmo - 장모님 jangmonim
    husband's father - 시아버지 siabeoji - 아버님 abeonim
    husband's mother - 시어머니 sieomeoni - 어머님 eomeonim

    son-in-law - 사위 sawi - ○ 서방 his family name + seobang (e.g. 김 서방 Kim seobang)
    daughter-in-law - 며느리 myeoneuri - 아가 aga

    brother-in-law
    (if you are male)​
    elder sister's husband - 매형 maehyeong or 자형 jahyeong​
    younger sister's husband - 매부 maebu​
    (if he is younger than you) ○ 서방 his family name + seobang
    wife's brother - 처남 cheonam​
    (if he is your wife's elder brother, and older than you) 형님 hyeongnim
    wife's sister's husband - 동서 dongseo​
    (if he is your wife's elder sister's husband, and older than you) 형님 hyeongnim
    (if he is your wife's younger sister's husband, and younger than you) ○ 서방 his family name + seobang
    (if you are female)​
    elder sister's husband - 형부 hyeongbu​
    younger sister's husband - 제부 jebu​
    (if he is younger than you) ○ 서방 his family name + seobang
    husband's elder brother - 아주버니 ajubeoni​
    husband's younger brother - 시동생 sidongsaeng​
    (if he is married) 서방님 seobangnim
    (if he is single) 도련님 doryeonnim
    husband's elder sister's husband - 아주버니 ajubeoni​
    husband's younger sister's husband - 서방님 seobangnim​

    sister-in-law
    (if you are male)​
    elder brother's wife - 형수 hyeongsu - 형수님 hyeongsunim
    younger brother's wife - 제수 jesu - 제수씨 jesussi
    wife's brother's wife - 처남댁 cheonamdaek​
    (if she is your wife's elder brother's wife) 아주머니 ajumeoni
    wife's elder sister - 처형 cheohyeong​
    wife's younger sister - 처제 cheoje​
    (if you are female)​
    elder brother's wife - 새언니 saeeonni​
    younger brother's wife - 올케 olke​
    husband's brother's wife - 동서 dongseo​
    (if she is your husband's elder brother's wife) 형님 hyeongnim
    husband's sister - 시누이 sinui​
    (if she is your husband's elder sister) 형님 hyeongnim
    (if she is your husband's younger sister) 아가씨 agassi

    nephew-in-law - 조카사위 jokasawi - ○ 서방 his family name + seobang
    niece-in-law - 조카며느리 jokamyeoneuri - 아가 aga

    co-parents-in-law
    offspring's spouse's father - 사돈어른 sadoneoreun​
    offspring's spouse's mother - 사부인 sabuin​
     
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