ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ
vaddā bharā
The English phrase "big brother" is translated into Punjabi as ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ (vaddā bharā).
ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ is the literal term used to refer to a brother who is older than the speaker or another person. In many Punjabi households, rather than using this specific phrase, people often use specific kinship terms or add the respectful suffix -ਜੀ (-ji) to a brother's name to show respect to an elder.
What does it mean word for word?
ਵੱਡਾ (vaddā) means "big" or "large", and ਭਰਾ (bharā) means "brother".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective ਵੱਡਾ (vaddā) precedes the noun ਭਰਾ (bharā) to indicate seniority.
How do you pronounce it?
vaddā bharā
Did you know?
- While ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ is the standard term, many Punjabi speakers use the word ਵੀਰ (vīr), which historically means 'brave' or 'hero', as a synonym for brother.
- Addressing a stranger as ਪਾਜੀ (pājī) or 'big brother' is a common way to show friendly respect in Punjab, even if there is no actual family relation.
- The Punjabi word for brother ਭਰਾ shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'brother'. Both trace back to the Proto-Indo-European word *bʰréh₂tēr.
Examples in context
- ਉਹ ਮੇਰਾ ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ ਹੈ।Oh merā vaḍḍā bhrā hai.He is my big brother.
- ਮੇਰਾ ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ।Merā vaḍḍā bhrā shaher vich rahindā hai.My big brother lives in the city.
- ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਮਦਦ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।Vaḍḍā bhrā hamēshā madad kardā hai.A big brother always helps.
Example conversation
Preet and Gurpreet are discussing family members.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਵੱਡਾ ਭਰਾ ਇੱਥੇ ਹੈ?Kī tuhāḍā vaḍḍā bhrā itthē hai?Is your big brother here?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਨਹੀਂ, ਉਹ ਹਾਲੇ ਕੰਮ 'ਤੇ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।Nahī̃, oh hālē kamm 'te giā hai.No, he has gone to work just now.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਕਦੋਂ ਵਾਪਸ ਆਵੇਗਾ?Ṭhīk hai, oh kadõ vāpas āvēgā?Okay, when will he come back?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਉਹ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਆਵੇਗਾ।Oh shām nū āvēgā.He will come in the evening.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਭਰਾ, ਵੱਡਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
