چھوٹی بہن
choti behen
The Urdu phrase for "little sister" is چھوٹی بہن (choti behen).
This phrase is used to refer to a female sibling who is younger than the speaker.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of چھوٹی, which means "small" or "little" and بہن, which means "sister".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective چھوٹی is used in its feminine form to agree with the feminine noun بہن.
How do you pronounce it?
choti behen
Did you know?
- The word بہن descends from the Sanskrit word भगिनी 'bhaginī', which originally referred to a share or a portion of a family's inheritance.
- While چھوٹی بہن means 'little sister', Urdu speakers often use the term آپ 'you' with a formal tone even when speaking to a much younger sister to show respect and affection.
- The word بہن 'sister' is frequently used as a kinship term for any woman, even a complete stranger, to establish a bond of trust and modesty.
Examples in context
- میری چھوٹی بہن بہت پیاری ہے۔meri chhoti behen bohat pyari hai.My little sister is very cute.
- کیا آپ کی کوئی چھوٹی بہن ہے؟kya aap ki koi chhoti behen hai?Do you have a little sister?
- میری چھوٹی بہن ابھی اسکول جاتی ہے۔meri chhoti behen abhi school jati hai.My little sister goes to school now.
Example conversation
Sara and Ahmed are talking about their families at a cafe.
- سارہ Saraاحمد، کیا تمہاری کوئی چھوٹی بہن ہے؟Ahmed, kya tumhari koi chhoti behen hai?Ahmed, do you have a little sister?
- احمد Ahmedہاں، میری ایک چھوٹی بہن ہے۔haan, meri ek chhoti behen hai.Yes, I have one little sister.
- سارہ Saraوہ کہاں رہتی ہے؟woh kahan rehti hai?Where does she live?
- احمد Ahmedوہ لاہور میں رہتی ہے۔woh Lahore mein rehti hai.She lives in Lahore.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries بہن, CC BY-SA 4.0.
