ਭਤੀਜਾ
bhatija
To say nephew in Punjabi, use ਭਤੀਜਾ (bhatija).
ਭਤੀਜਾ means nephew in the sense of a brother's son.
Meaning: fraternal or sororal nephew (noun)
Which one should you use?
Punjabi uses different words depending on whose son the nephew is. ਭਤੀਜਾ is a brother's son, while a sister's son is called bhanja.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the oblique case, for example before a postposition meaning to or of, ਭਤੀਜਾ changes to ਭਤੀਜੇ (bhatije).
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as bhatija, with an aspirated b at the start.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use ਭਤੀਜਾ for your sister's son. Use bhanja for him.
Did you know?
- In traditional Punjabi family structures, a ਭਤੀਜਾ is often viewed as a direct continuation of the father's patriarchal line, giving him a different social status than a bhanja.
- The word ਭਤੀਜਾ is an etymological relative of the English word 'brother', as both derive from the ancient Proto-Indo-European root for 'brother'.
- While English has one word for 'nephew', Punjabi has entirely distinct words for a brother's son, a brother's daughter, a sister's son, and a sister's daughter.
Examples in context
- ਮੇਰਾ ਭਤੀਜਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ਰਾਰਤੀ ਹੈ।merā bhatījā bahut śarāratī hai.My nephew is very naughty.
- ਉਹ ਮੇਰਾ ਇੱਕੋ ਇੱਕ ਭਤੀਜਾ ਹੈ।oh merā ikko ik bhatījā hai.He is my only nephew.
- ਭਤੀਜਾ ਸਕੂਲ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।bhatījā sakūl jā rihā hai.The nephew is going to school.
Example conversation
Two relatives are talking about a child at a family gathering.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਕੀ ਇਹ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਭਤੀਜਾ ਹੈ?kī ih tuhāḍā bhatījā hai?Is this your nephew?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਹਾਂ, ਇਹ ਮੇਰਾ ਭਤੀਜਾ ਹੈ।hāṅ, ih merā bhatījā hai.Yes, he is my nephew.
- ਪ੍ਰੀਤ Preetਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਲੱਗ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।oh bahut piārā lag rihā hai.He looks very cute.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਧੰਨਵਾਦ, ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਿਲਣਸਾਰ ਹੈ।dhannavāda, oh bahut milaṇasāra hai.Thank you, he is very friendly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਭਤੀਜਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
