ভনী
bhoni/bʱoni/
The English word "sister" is translated into Assamese using several forms, with the default form being ভনী (bhoni). Wiktionary also lists বা (ba) and বাই (bai).
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Assamese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ভনী | bhoni | /bʱoni/ | |
| বা | ba | /bɑ/ /bɑː/ |
|
| বাই | bai | /bɑi/ | |
| বাইদেউ | baideu | /bɑɪ.dɛʊ/ /bɑɪ.dó/ |
polite |
| ভণ্টী | bhonti | /bʱɔn.ti/ | polite |
| বাই-ভনী | bai-bhoni |
In Assamese, the specific word for sister depends on whether the sister is older or younger than you. The compound form বাই-ভনী is used to refer to sisters in general (both elder and younger).
Which one should you use?
The form বা refers specifically to an elder sister, while ভনী refers specifically to a younger sister. To refer to sisters collectively, you can use the compound form বাই-ভনী.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
বাইদেউ is a polite or respectful way to address or refer to an elder sister. The form ভণ্টী is also a polite way to refer to a younger sister.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of ভনী is /bʱoni/.
Did you know?
- The word বা is an unexpected relative of the Sanskrit word for 'wind', ৱাত, which stems from the Proto-Indo-European root for 'wind'.
- In Assamese culture, calling a woman বাইদেউ is a common way to show respect to an older female acquaintance, even if she is not a biological sister.
- The respectful form for an elder sister, বাইদেউ, literally contains the word for 'God' within it.
Examples in context
- এইয়া মোৰ সৰু ভনী।This is my younger sister.This sentence is useful for identifying a younger sister using ভনী.Tatoeba #8623511 by Mohsin_Ali, translation #3378980 by boosure
- তাই তোমাৰ বাতকৈ ওখ।She is taller than your sister.This sentence is useful for making a comparison using the elder sister form বা.Tatoeba #11765774 by Mohsin_Ali, translation #5969946 by ApioDelPueblo
- মই তোমাৰ ভনীক চুদিছোঁ।I fucked your sister.This sentence contains the word ভনী in a highly vulgar context.Tatoeba #12549872 by Mohsin_Ali, translation #10687024 by AutoBot
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Akash and Nishita are talking about their siblings.
- আকাশ Akashতোমাৰ ভনীৰ নাম কি?Tomar bhonir naam ki?What is your sister's name?
- নিশিতা Nishitaমোৰ ভনীৰ নাম ৰিয়া।Mor bhonir naam Riya.My sister's name is Riya.
- আকাশ Akashতাই কত পঢ়িছে?Tai koto porhise?What grade is she in?
- নিশিতা Nishitaতাই কলেজত পঢ়িছে।Tai college-ot porhise.She is studying in college.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries ভনী, বা, বাই, বাইদেউ, ভণ্টী, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries বা, বাইদেউ, ভনী, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
