ਸੱਸ
sassa/səsːᵊ/Gurmukhi, feminine
The Punjabi word for mother-in-law is ਸੱਸ (sassa). Wiktionary also lists سَسّ (sass).
Meaning: spouse's mother (noun)
Ways to say it
| Punjabi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ਸੱਸ | sassa | /səsːᵊ/ | Gurmukhi, feminine |
| سَسّ | sass | Shahmukhi, feminine |
This noun refers to the mother of one's spouse.
Which one should you use?
While ਸੱਸ is a standard term, more formal versions include Sas or Sasu Maa.
How does it change in a sentence?
ਸੱਸ is the singular form. In common usage, the word does not change for pluralization. Instead, context or demonstratives are used to indicate plurality.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sassa.
Did you know?
- In Punjabi folk songs and traditional stories, the ਸੱਸ is often portrayed as a comical antagonist or a source of domestic tension, similar to the 'wicked stepmother' trope in Western fairy tales.
- The word ਸੱਸ has a lineage stretching back to the Proto-Indo-European root *swéḱuros, meaning 'father-in-law' or 'relative by marriage'.
- In some traditional Punjabi households, a daughter-in-law may avoid saying the word ਸੱਸ directly to her mother-in-law and instead use a respectful title or a third-person reference.
Examples in context
- ਮੇਰੀ ਸੱਸ ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗੀ ਹੈ।merī sass bahut caṅgī hai.My mother-in-law is very kind.
- ਸੱਸ ਜੀ ਅੱਜ ਘਰ ਆਏ ਹਨ।sass jī ajja ghara āē hana.Mother-in-law has come home today.
Example conversation
Kiran and Ravinder are discussing their family dinner plans.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਰਵਿੰਦਰ, ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਸੱਸ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ?ravindar, kī tuhāḍī sassa kal ā rahē hana?Ravinder, is your mother-in-law coming tomorrow?
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਜਾਣਗੇ।hāṃ, uha savērē pahuñca jāṇagē.Yes, she will arrive in the morning.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਮੈਂ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਕੁਝ ਖਾਸ ਬਣਾਵਾਂਗੀ।maiṃ uhnāṃ laī kujha khāsa baṇāvaṅgī.I will make something special for her.
- ਰਵਿੰਦਰ Ravinderਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਖਾਣਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਹੈ।uhnāṃ nū tuhāḍā khāṇā bahuta pasanda hai.She likes your food very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother-in-law” translations and entries ਸੱਸ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਸੱਸ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
