দুলাভাই
dulabhai
The Bengali phrase for brother-in-law is দুলাভাই (dulabhai).
দুলাভাই is used to refer to the husband of one's sister.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
দুলাভাই is an informal/colloquial term. While 'dulabhai' is the common way to address or refer to a sister's husband, it is more colloquial than formal kinship terms used in highly formal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
dulabhai
When do people say it?
In Bengali culture, দুলাভাই is often used as a term of address for a sister's husband, not just a way to refer to him in the third person.
Did you know?
- If you were referring to a brother-in-law through your husband's side, you would likely use a completely different term, as Bengali kinship is highly specific to the maternal or paternal line.
- The term দুলাভাই is a blend of দুলা and ভাই, where ভাই means 'brother' and দুলা is a regional variation of the word for 'groom'.
- It is common for a person to call a close older male friend দুলাভাই as a sign of affection or a joke, even if there is no actual family relation.
Examples in context
- আমার দেবর আজকে খেলায় যাবে।My brother-in-law will go play today.
- আমার দুলাভাই খুব ভালো মানুষ।Amar dulabhai khub bhalo manush.My brother-in-law is a very good person.
- দুলাভাই আজ আসবে না।Dulabhai aj asbe na.Brother-in-law will not come today.
- দুলাভাই কি ঢাকা থাকেন?Dulabhai ki Dhaka thaken?Does your brother-in-law live in Dhaka?
Example conversation
Tania is telling Rahul about her sister's husband.
- তানিয়া Taniaরাহুল, আমার দুলাভাই এখানে এসেছেন।Rahul, amar dulabhai ekhane eshechen.Rahul, my brother-in-law has come here.
- রাহুল Rahulতিনি কোথায় আছেন?Tini kothay achen?Where is he?
- তানিয়া Taniaদুলাভাই ড্রয়িং রুমে বসে আছেন।Dulabhai drawing room-e boshe achen.Brother-in-law is sitting in the drawing room.
- রাহুল Rahulআমি উনার সাথে দেখা করি।Ami unar sathe dekha kori.I will go meet him.
