ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ
vaddi bhain
The Punjabi phrase for "older sister" is ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ (vaddi bhain).
ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ is used to refer to an older sister. In many Punjabi-speaking households, a more respectful way to address or refer to an older sister is by adding the suffix -ji to the word for sister, resulting in ਭੈਣਜੀ.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of vaddi, meaning big or large and bhain, meaning sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective vaddi (big) must agree in gender with the feminine noun bhain (sister).
How do you pronounce it?
vaddi bhain
Did you know?
- The term ਭੈਣ descends from the Sanskrit word bhaginī, which originally related to the concept of sharing a portion or a part.
- In many Punjabi households, addressing an older sister by her actual first name without a title like ਭੈਣਜੀ can be seen as a sign of being disrespectful or poorly raised.
- In many Punjabi families, even if you are not biological siblings, you might call a slightly older female acquaintance ਭੈਣਜੀ as a sign of social respect.
Examples in context
- ਮੇਰੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਮਝਦਾਰ ਹੈ।meri vaddī bhaiṇ bahut samajhdār hai.My older sister is very wise.
- ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ ਇੱਥੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ?kī tuhāḍī vaddī bhaiṇ ithē rahindī hai?Does your older sister live here?
- ਮੇਰੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ।merī vaddī bhaiṇ merī madad kardī hai.My older sister helps me.
Example conversation
Two siblings are talking about their family members at home.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਕੀ ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਦੀ ਵੱਡੀ ਭੈਣ ਆ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ?kī Manpreet dī vaddī bhaiṇ ā rahī hai?Is Manpreet's older sister coming?
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਅੱਜ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਆਵੇਗੀ।hāṇ, uha ajj śām nū āvēgī.Yes, she will come this evening.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗੀ ਭੈਣ ਹੈ।uha bahut caṅgī bhaiṇ hai.She is a very good sister.
- ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreetਹਾਂ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਿਹਨਤੀ ਹੈ।hāṇ, Gurpreet, uha bahut mihnatī hai.Yes, Gurpreet, she is very hardworking.
