Gujarati/Family relations

In Gujarati culture:

These are the "titles" for family members. With the exception of Father, Mother, Grandparents, and others who are marked with a star (who are called by the title only), all of these titles are added after the name of the person.


 * Father: Pappa, Papa, Bawa or Bapuji*
 * Mother: Ba, Mummy, Mumma or Maamajee*


 * Brother (also male cousins): Bhai (e.g. Haresh Bhai)
 * Brother's Wife: Bhabhi (e.g. Komal Bhabhi)


 * Sister (also female cousins): Bahen/Ben (e.g. Mayuri Ben)
 * Older Sister: Didi/Ben (e.g. Mayuri Didi)
 * Younger Brother: Bhaio*
 * Sister's Husband: Banevi or Jijaji or Kumaar (from in-laws) (e.g. Kunal Jijaji)


 * Father's Younger Brother or Father's Younger Cousins (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc): Kaka or Chacha (e.g. Rajesh Kaka)
 * Father's Younger Brother's Wife: Kaki or Chachi (e.g. Komal Kaki)
 * Father's Older Brother:Bapa or Mhota Pappa or Mhota Bawa or Ji Dada
 * Father's Oldest Brother: Mota kaka or Mhota Papa or Mhota Bawa
 * Father's Oldest Brother's Wife: Mhoti or Mhoti Mummy or Mhoti Ma or Mhoti Ba or Bhabu


 * Father's Sister: Fai, Foi, Fui, Fia, Faiba, Foiba (e.g. Komal Fai)
 * Father's Sister's Husband: Fua, Fuji (e.g. Akshay Fua)


 * Mother's Brother and Mother's Male Cousins (1st, 2nd, etc): Mama (e.g. Ketul Mama)
 * Mother's Brother's Wife: Mami (e.g. Kanta Mami)


 * Mother's Sister: Masi (e.g. Sneha Masi) or Mahee
 * Mother's Sister's Husband: Masa (e.g. Gopal Masa) or Mahaji


 * Paternal Grandfather: Dada or Dada Bawa or Bapuji*
 * Paternal Grandmother: Dadi or Dadi Ma or or Ba*


 * Maternal Grandfather: Nanabapa or Nana Bawa or Nana or Dada*
 * Maternal Grandmother: Nanima or Ba or Nani*
 * Maternal Grandfather's Brother: Nana or Nana Bawa
 * Maternal Grandmother's Sister: Nani


 * Wife's father:Sasra or hahara
 * Wife's mother:Sasu or hahu
 * Wife's Younger Sister: Saali
 * Wife's Younger Brother: Saalo
 * Wife’s Elder Sister: Patla Sasu or Patla Hahu
 * Wife's Sister’s husband: Sadhu Bhai
 * Wife's Brothers wife: Saadhotri or Sadaveli (e.g. Bhumika Saadhotri)


 * Husband’s Elder Brother: Jeth
 * Husband’s Elder Brother’s Wife: Jethani
 * Husband’s Younger Brother: De-ar
 * Husband’s Younger Brother’s wife: Derani
 * Husband’s Sister: Nanand
 * Husband’s Sister’s Husband: Nandoi


 * Brother’s Son: Bhatrijo, Bhatrijao (plural)
 * Brother’s Daughter: Bhatriji, Bhatrijio (plural)
 * Sister’s Son: Bhanej, Bhanjo, Bhaniyo, Bhaniyao (plural)
 * Sister’s Daughter: Bhanej, Bhanji, Bhani, Bhanio (plural)


 * Cousins are considered to be "brother" or "sister". Elder cousins' name followed by Bhai or Ben


 * Son: Babo, Chokro, Dikro, Lalo
 * Daughter: Baby, Chokri, Dikri, Lali

If an uncle or aunt is a generation above usual (a "great uncle" or "great aunt"), a "mhota/mota" (big) is usually added to the title, and the name is dropped. So Maternal Grandmother's Brother is "Mhota Mama" (Elder Uncle).

Names are usually followed by titles, as they have listed above. This is different from the English, where we would say "Uncle John".

It is not unusual for this to vary from family to family, but these are the generally accepted titles.