बड़ा भाई
bada bhai/bə.ɽɑː bʱɑː.iː/word by word
The English phrase "big brother" can be translated into Hindi as बड़ा भाई (bada bhai).
In Hindi, बड़ा भाई is used to specify seniority in age, whereas in English 'big brother' can sometimes imply physical size.
What does it mean word for word?
The word बड़ा (bada) means 'big' or 'elder', and भाई (bhai) means 'brother'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /bə.ɽɑː bʱɑː.iː/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word भाई (bhai) is also used in some urban contexts as a slang term for a gangster or a 'don' of a neighborhood.
- It is culturally uncommon in many Hindi-speaking households for a younger sibling to call their बड़ा भाई by his first name alone, as this is seen as disrespectful.
- The word भाई is a cognate of the Old Norse 'bróðir', making the Hindi term a distant relative of Viking-era terminology.
Examples in context
- भैया, मेरे पास आपके लिए एक सवाल है। (Bhaiya, mere paas aapke liye ek sawal hai.)Big brother, I have a question for you.
- क्या मुझे आपकी सलाह चाहिए, भैया? (Kya mujhe aapki salah chahiye, bhaiya?)Do I need your advice, big brother?
- वह मेरा बड़ा भाई है।vah merā baṛā bhāī hai.He is my big brother.
- क्या आपका कोई बड़ा भाई है?kyā āpkā koī baṛā bhāī hai?Do you have a big brother?
Example conversation
Aditya and Priya are talking about their siblings at home.
- आदित्य Adityaप्रिया, क्या तुम्हारा कोई बड़ा भाई है?priyā, kyā tumhārā koī baṛā bhāī hai?Priya, do you have a big brother?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, मेरा एक बड़ा भाई है।hā̃, merā ek baṛā bhāī hai.Yes, I have one big brother.
- आदित्य Adityaवह क्या करता है?vah kyā kartā hai?What does he do?
- प्रिया Priyaवह एक इंजीनियर है।vah ek iñjinir hai.He is an engineer.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (बड़ा, भाई) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries बड़ा, भाई, CC BY-SA 4.0.
