Punjabi Family Members: Complete Vocabulary List (with Shahmukhi Script)

Family sits at the centre of Punjabi culture, and the language reflects it — there's a specific word for almost every relationship, right down to which side of the family someone is from. If you're learning Punjabi to talk with family, married into a Punjabi household, or just want to follow along at gatherings, this list covers the words you'll hear most.

Parents and grandparents

• Abba ji / Pita ji — ابا جی — Father
• Ammi ji / Mata ji — امی جی — Mother
• Dada ji — دادا جی — Grandfather (father's side)
• Dadi ji — دادی جی — Grandmother (father's side)
• Nana ji — نانا جی — Grandfather (mother's side)
• Nani ji — نانی جی — Grandmother (mother's side)

Siblings

• Veer / Bhira — ویر — Brother
• Bhain — بھین — Sister
• Wadda veer — وڈا ویر — Older brother
• Choti bhain — چھوٹی بھین — Younger sister

Aunts and uncles

• Chacha ji — چاچا جی — Uncle (father's younger brother)
• Taya ji — تایا جی — Uncle (father's older brother)
• Mama ji — ماما جی — Uncle (mother's brother)
• Bhua ji — پھوپھی جی — Aunt (father's sister)
• Masi ji — خالہ جی — Aunt (mother's sister)
• Chachi ji — چاچی جی — Aunt (wife of Chacha ji)
• Mami ji — مامی جی — Aunt (wife of Mama ji)

Cousins and children

• Cousin bhira / Cousin bhain — کزن — Cousin (brother/sister)
• Puttar — پُتر — Son
• Dhee — دھی — Daughter
• Bacha — بچہ — Child

Many Punjabi speakers simply call a cousin “veer” or “bhain” too — the closeness of the relationship often matters more than the exact technical term.

In-laws

• Saas — ساس — Mother-in-law
• Sohra — سُسرا — Father-in-law
• Jeeja — جیجا — Sister's husband (brother-in-law)
• Nanad — نندھ — Husband's sister (sister-in-law)
• Bhabi — بھابھی — Brother's wife (sister-in-law)
• Sala — سالا — Wife's brother (brother-in-law)

Marriage and household words

• Pati — پتی — Husband
• Patni — پتنی — Wife
• Parivaar — پریوار — Family
• Ghar — گھر — Home

Why “ji” matters so much here

You'll notice “ji” attached to almost every elder relative above. It's not optional politeness — dropping it, especially with grandparents, parents, or anyone older, can come across as disrespectful even if the rest of your sentence is perfect. It's one of the fastest ways to sound warm and respectful in Punjabi, even as a complete beginner.

If you're learning Punjabi to speak more naturally with your own family — whether that's parents, in-laws, or grandparents — a trial lesson is the easiest way to start building the exact conversations you'll actually have with them.