Unit 3 · Family · Lesson 7 of 24
Parents and siblings
ବାପା, ମାଆ, ଭାଇ, ଭଉଣୀ
You’ll be able to: Introduce your parents and brothers and sisters, including elder and younger ones.
You are showing a friend a family photo on your phone and pointing out who is who.
About 5–10 minutes · progress saved in this browser · Beta
Words and phrases in this lesson
| Odia | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ବାପା | bapa | father; dadUsed both to talk about and to address your father. |
| ମାଆ | maa | mother; mumUsed both to talk about and to address your mother. |
| ଭାଇ | bhai | brotherAlso a friendly way to address a man about your age, e.g. a shopkeeper. |
| ଭଉଣୀ | bhauni | sister |
| ବଡ଼ ଭାଇ | bara bhai | elder brotherବଡ଼ = big, elder. Likewise ବଡ଼ ଭଉଣୀ (bara bhauni) = elder sister. |
| ଭାଇନା | bhaina | elder brother (what you call him)Younger siblings call an elder brother ଭାଇନା rather than by his name. |
| ସାନ ଭାଇ | sana bhai | younger brotherସାନ = small, younger. Likewise ସାନ ଭଉଣୀ (sana bhauni) = younger sister. |
| ଦିଦି | didi | elder sister (what you call her)ଅପା (apa) and ନାନୀ (nani) are also common for an elder sister; ଅପା is also a polite way to address a woman a bit older than you. |
Examples
ଏମାନେ ମୋ ବାପା ଓ ମାଆ।
emane mo bapa o maa.
These are my father and mother.
ଏ ମୋ ସାନ ଭାଇ।
e mo sana bhai.
This is my younger brother.
ସେ ମୋ ଭଉଣୀ।
se mo bhauni.
She is my sister.
ମୋ ଦିଦି କେଉଁଠି?
mo didi keunthi?
Where is my elder sister?
ଭାଇନା, ମାଆ କେଉଁଠି?
bhaina, maa keunthi?
Brother, where's Mum?
ଆପଣଙ୍କ ବଡ଼ ଭାଇ କେଉଁଠି?
apananka bara bhai keunthi?
Where is your elder brother?
Dialogue: Looking at a family photo
Arun
ଏ କିଏ?
e kie?
Who's this?
Rina
ଏ ମୋ ବାପା, ଆଉ ଏ ମୋ ମାଆ।
e mo bapa, au e mo maa.
This is my dad, and this is my mum.
Arun
ଆଉ ଏ କିଏ? ତୁମ ଭାଇ?
au e kie? tuma bhai?
And who's this? Your brother?
Rina
ହଁ, ଏ ମୋ ସାନ ଭାଇ ବାପି।
han, e mo sana bhai Bapi.
Yes, this is my younger brother, Bapi.
Arun
ତୁମର ଦିଦି ଅଛନ୍ତି?
tumara didi achhanti?
Do you have an elder sister?
Rina
ନାହିଁ, ମୋର ଜଣେ ଭାଇନା ଅଛନ୍ତି।
nahin, mora jane bhaina achhanti.
No, I have an elder brother.
Tip
Elder and younger
Odia always marks age: ବଡ଼ (bara) = elder, ସାନ (sana) = younger, so ବଡ଼ ଭାଇ, ସାନ ଭାଇ, ବଡ଼ ଭଉଣୀ, ସାନ ଭଉଣୀ. Elder siblings are not called by name — you say ଭାଇନା or ଦିଦି. For elders, the respectful plural verb is used: ମୋର ଜଣେ ଭାଇନା ଅଛନ୍ତି.