Sanskrit Family Relationship Terms

Father's father

Pitāmaha (पितामह)

Father's mother

Pitāmahī (पितामही)

Mother's father

Mātāmaha (मातामह)

Mother's mother

Mātāmahī (मातामही)

Father

Pitā (पिता)

Mother

Mātā (माता)

Father's older brother

Jyeṣṭha Pitṛvya

'Pitṛvya' (पितृव्य) is the base word for paternal uncle; 'jyeṣṭha' (elder) and 'kaniṣṭha' (younger) mark birth order.

Father's younger brother

Kaniṣṭha Pitṛvya

Father's sister

Pitṛṣvasā (पितृष्वसा)

Mother's older brother

Jyeṣṭha Mātula

'Mātula' (मातुल) is the base word for maternal uncle.

Mother's younger brother

Kaniṣṭha Mātula

Mother's sister

Mātṛṣvasā (मातृष्वसा)

Father's older brother's wife

Pitṛvyapatnī

Descriptive ('paternal uncle's wife').

Father's younger brother's wife

Pitṛvyapatnī

Mother's brother's wife

Mātulānī

Father's sister's husband

Pitṛṣvasṛpati

Descriptive ('paternal aunt's husband').

Mother's sister's husband

Mātṛṣvasṛpati

Older brother

Jyeṣṭha Bhrātā

'Bhrātā' (भ्राता) is the base word for brother.

Younger brother

Anuja (अनुज)

Older sister

Jyeṣṭha Bhaginī

'Bhaginī' (भगिनी) is the base word for sister.

Younger sister

Anujā (अनुजा)

Father's brother's son

Pitṛvyaputra

Father's brother's daughter

Pitṛvyaputrī

Father's sister's son

Pitṛṣvasṛputra

Father's sister's daughter

Pitṛṣvasṛputrī

Mother's brother's son

Mātulaputra

Mother's brother's daughter

Mātulaputrī

Mother's sister's son

Mātṛṣvasṛputra

Mother's sister's daughter

Mātṛṣvasṛputrī

Son

Putra (पुत्र)

Daughter

Putrī (पुत्री)

Grandson

Pautra (पौत्र)

Granddaughter

Pautrī (पौत्री)

Son-in-law

Jāmātā (जामाता)

Daughter-in-law

Snuṣā (स्नुषा)

Brother's son

Bhrātṛputra (भ्रातृपुत्र)

Sister's son

Bhāgineya (भागिनेय)

Brother's daughter

Bhrātṛputrī (भ्रातृपुत्री)

Sister's daughter

Bhāgineyī (भागिनेयी)

Husband

Pati (पति)

Wife

Patnī (पत्नी)

Spouse's father

Śvaśura (श्वशुर)

Spouse's mother

Śvaśrū (श्वश्रू)

Husband's older brother

Jyeṣṭha Bhāvuka

Descriptive; Sanskrit's dedicated term 'devara' specifically means a husband's younger brother.

Husband's younger brother

Devara (देवर)

Husband's sister

Nanāndṛ (ननान्दृ)

Wife's brother

Śyāla (श्याल)

Wife's sister

Śyālī (श्याली)

Brother's wife

Bhrātṛjāyā

Also called Bhrātṛvadhū.

Sister's husband

Bhaginīpati

Literally 'sister's husband/lord.'