Understanding family and kinship terms is an essential aspect of mastering any language, including Hindi. In Hindi culture, family ties are particularly important, and therefore, a rich vocabulary exists to describe these relationships. Here, we will explore some of the most common Hindi words for family members and kinship terms, along with their definitions and examples of how to use them in sentences.

Parivaar
Parivaar means ‘family’. This term is generally used to refer to the immediate family and sometimes the extended family.
Mujhe apne parivaar se bahut pyaar hai. (I love my family very much.)

Maa
Maa is the word for ‘mother’. It reflects the affection and reverence with which mothers are regarded in Indian culture.
Maa ke haath ka khana sabse achha hota hai. (Food made by mother’s hands is the best.)

Pita
Pita means ‘father’. It showcases the respect for the patriarch in a traditional Indian family setting.
Mere pita mujhe roz school chhodne jaate hain. (My father drops me to school every day.)

Beta
Beta refers to a ‘son’. It is commonly used by parents when addressing their child.
Beta, kya tumne apna homework kar liya? (Son, have you done your homework?)

Beti
Beti signifies a ‘daughter’. This term is endearingly used by parents for their female child.
Beti, tumhara janamdin kab hai? (Daughter, when is your birthday?)

Bhai
Bhai translates to ‘brother’. In Hindi-speaking regions, it is also used to address males of similar age in a friendly manner.
Bhai, tum kal school kyun nahi aaye? (Brother, why didn’t you come to school yesterday?)

Behen
Behen means ‘sister’. It conveys the affectionate bond between siblings.
Meri behen bahut acchi kahaniyaan likhti hai. (My sister writes very good stories.)

Dada
Dada designates the ‘elder brother’. It is not only used to address one’s own elder brother but also used as a term of respect for elder males.
Dada ji ke paas bahut saari purani kahaniyaan hain. (Grandfather has many old stories.)

Dadi
Dadi refers to ‘elder sister’ but more commonly used for ‘paternal grandmother’. It is a term of affection and respect.
Dadi maa har raat mujhe kahani sunati hain. (Grandma tells me a story every night.)

Nana
Nana means ‘maternal grandfather’. It is a term used with love and respect for one’s mother’s father.
Nana ji bahut mazedaar hain. (Grandfather is very fun.)

Nani
Nani translates to ‘maternal grandmother’. It denotes the love towards one’s mother’s mother.
Nani humesha mujhe mithai deti hain. (Grandma always gives me sweets.)

Chacha
Chacha is the word for ‘father’s younger brother’, also referred to as ‘uncle’.
Chacha ji ne mujhe nayi cycle khareedi hai. (Uncle has bought me a new bicycle.)

Chachi
Chachi means ‘father’s younger brother’s wife’, commonly referred to as ‘aunt’.
Chachi ji, aapke haath ki chai bahut acchi lagti hai. (Aunt, I really like the tea you make.)

Mama
Mama stands for ‘mother’s brother’, which is another word for ‘uncle’ in English.
Mama ji ka ghar kahan hai? (Where is uncle’s house?)

Mami
Mami refers to ‘mother’s brother’s wife’, also ‘aunt’ in English.
Mami ji ke sath shopping karne mein maza aata hai. (It is fun to shop with aunt.)

Bua
Bua denotes ‘father’s sister’, an affectionate term for ‘paternal aunt’.
Bua ji ne mujhe nayi kitaab di hai. (Aunt has given me a new book.)

Phupha
Phupha stands for ‘father’s sister’s husband’, who is referred to as the ‘paternal uncle’.
Phupha ji sher bahut acche sunate hain. (Uncle recites poetry very well.)

Jija
Jija is the word for ‘sister’s husband’ and is commonly known as ‘brother-in-law’.
Jija ji kal raat ko party me bahut mazaa aaya. (Brother-in-law, we had a lot of fun at the party last night.)

Devar
Devar stands for ‘husband’s younger brother’, also referred to as ‘brother-in-law’ in English.
Devar ji ne ghar ke kaam mein meri bahut madad ki. (Brother-in-law helped me a lot with housework.)

Nanad
Nanad refers to ‘husband’s sister’, commonly known as ‘sister-in-law’.
Nanad ji ka ghar bahut sunder hai. (Sister-in-law’s house is very beautiful.)

Understanding these Hindi kinship terms can be very useful for anyone looking to connect with Hindi-speaking relatives or friends, or simply to understand the cultural nuances when engaging with Hindi speakers. Remember that kinship terms in Hindi can be more elaborate than their English counterparts, as they often distinguish between different sides of the family and the relative age of the family member. Happy learning!