बहन
bahan/bə.ɦən/feminine
The Hindi word for sister is बहन (bahan). It is also spelled बहिन (bahin). Wiktionary also lists हमशीरा (hamśīrā).
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| बहन | bahan | /bə.ɦən/ (Hindi, Standard) /bə.ɦɪn/ (Eastern, Hindi) |
feminine |
| बहिन | bahin | /bə.ɦɪn/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine, alternative form |
| हमशीरा | hamśīrā | feminine |
The primary word for a sister is बहन. In many parts of North India, the word बहन is also used as a respectful or friendly way to address a woman who is not a biological relative, similar to 'sister' in English.
Which one should you use?
बहन is the standard form. बहिन is an alternative spelling of बहन. हमशीरा is another way to express the same concept.
How does it change in a sentence?
बहन is a feminine noun and its adjectives and verbs must agree with its feminine gender.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of bahan is /bə.ɦən/.
Did you know?
- During the festival of Raksha Bandhan, sisters tie a sacred thread called a राखी on their brothers' wrists to symbolize a bond of protection.
- The word हमशीरा comes from Arabic and Persian influences and is more commonly used among Muslims in India and Pakistan.
- In traditional Indian households, a brother may call his sister दीदी if she is older, as बहन is a neutral term that doesn't specify age.
Examples in context
- मैं तेरी बहन हूँ।I'm your sister.This sentence demonstrates how to use बहन to state your relationship to someone.Tatoeba #3624010 by sabretou, translation #1979740 by CM
- मेरी बहन रोने लगी।My sister started crying.This sentence shows how to use बहन when describing an action.Tatoeba #3832405 by sabretou, translation #2133840 by Hybrid
- आपकी बहन कैसी हैं?How is your sister?This sentence shows how to use बहन when asking about someone's well-being.Tatoeba #4023463 by sabretou, translation #2648120 by CK
- मेरी बहन का नाम रीता है।My sister's name is Reeta.
- क्या आपकी बहन भारतीय संगीत पसंद करती हैं?Does your sister like Indian music?
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about family members at a café.
- विकास Vikasक्या तुम्हारी बहन यहाँ है?kya tumhari bahan yahan hai?Is your sister here?
- नेहा Nehaनहीं, मेरी बहन घर पर है।nahin, meri bahan ghar par hai.No, my sister is at home.
- विकास Vikasवह क्या कर रही है?vah kya kar rahi hai?What is she doing?
- नेहा Nehaवह पढ़ाई कर रही है।vah padhai kar rahi hai.She is studying.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries बहन, बहिन, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
