நாத்தனார்
naathanaar
The English phrase sister-in-law is translated into Tamil as நாத்தனார் (naathanaar).
நாத்தனார் is used to refer specifically to the sister of one's spouse.
How do you pronounce it?
naathanaar
Did you know?
- While 'sister-in-law' in English covers many roles, in Tamil, the term for a husband's sister is strictly distinguished from the term for a wife's sister, which would be a completely different word.
- The suffix ஆர் in நாத்தனார் is an honorific marker, showing respect to the person being addressed or discussed.
- In many Tamil-speaking households, using the specific term நாத்தனார் to address a sister-in-law directly can feel overly formal or even distancing. It is much more common to address her using a kinship term like 'akka' (elder sister) or 'thangachi' (younger sister) instead.
Examples in context
- என் நாத்தனார் மிகவும் அன்பானவர்.en nāttanār mikavum aṉpāṉavar.My sister-in-law is very kind.
- நாத்தனார் வீட்டிற்குச் செல்கிறோம்.nāṭṭanār vīṭṭiṟkuc celkiṟōm.We are going to my sister-in-law's house.
Example conversation
Santhosh and Anita are discussing family members at home.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅனிதா, உங்கள் நாத்தனார் எப்போது வருவார்கள்?Anita, ungal naathanaar eppodhu varuvaargal?Anita, when will your sister-in-law arrive?
- அனிதா Anitaஅவர்கள் நாளை காலை வருவார்கள்.Avargal naalai kaalai varuvaargal.She will arrive tomorrow morning.
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஅவங்களுக்கு என்ன பரிசு வாங்கலாம்?Avangalukku enna parisu vaangalaam?What gift can we buy for her?
- அனிதா Anitaஒரு அழகான புடவை வாங்கலாம்.Oru azhagaana pudavai vaangalaam.We can buy a beautiful saree.
