Telugu Family Relationship Terms

Father's father

Thatayya

Telugu commonly uses the same word for paternal and maternal grandfather.

Father's mother

Nannamma

Mother's father

Thatayya

Mother's mother

Ammamma

Father

Nanna

Mother

Amma

Father's older brother

Peddananna

Literally 'big father.'

Father's younger brother

Chinnananna

Literally 'small father.'

Father's sister

Atta

Mother's older brother

Mama

Mother's younger brother

Mama

Mother's sister

Pedhamma (if older than your mother) / Pinni (if younger)

Father's older brother's wife

Pedhamma

Same word as 'mother's older sister': Telugu groups relatives by parent-equivalent role, just like Tamil.

Father's younger brother's wife

Pinni

Mother's brother's wife

Atta

Regional variation; reflects the same marriage-alliance overlap noted for father-in-law below.

Father's sister's husband

Mama

Mother's sister's husband

Peddananna / Chinnananna

Older brother

Anna

Younger brother

Thammudu

Older sister

Akka

Younger sister

Chelli

Father's brother's son

Anna / Thammudu

Children of your peddananna/chinnananna are treated as siblings, not cousins.

Father's brother's daughter

Akka / Chelli

Father's sister's son

Bava

A cross-cousin, traditionally a potential marriage partner, mirroring Tamil's machaan.

Father's sister's daughter

Maradalu

Mother's brother's son

Bava

Mother's brother's daughter

Maradalu

Mother's sister's son

Anna / Thammudu

Mother's sister's daughter

Akka / Chelli

Son

Koduku

Daughter

Koothuru

Grandson

Manavadu

Granddaughter

Manavaralu

Son-in-law

Alludu

Daughter-in-law

Kodalu

Brother's son

Anna Koduku

Descriptive ('brother's son') rather than one dedicated word.

Sister's son

Chelli Koduku

Brother's daughter

Anna Koothuru

Sister's daughter

Chelli Koothuru

Husband

Bharta

Wife

Bharya

Spouse's father

Mama

Same word as 'mother's brother': mirrors Tamil's father-in-law/maternal-uncle overlap.

Spouse's mother

Atta

Same word as 'father's sister.'

Husband's older brother

Bava

Husband's younger brother

Bava

Husband's sister

Maradalu

Wife's brother

Bava

Wife's sister

Maradalu

Brother's wife

Vadina

Especially common for an elder brother's wife.

Sister's husband

Bava