दिदी
didī[d̪id̪i]feminine
The Nepali word for sister is दिदी (didī) or बहिनी.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Nepali | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| दिदी | didī | [d̪id̪i] (narrow) | feminine |
| बहिनी | bahinī | [bʌi̯ni] (narrow) | feminine |
In Nepali, the term you use for sister depends on the age of the person relative to you. It is also used socially to address women who are not your relatives.
Which one should you use?
Nepali distinguishes between an older and younger sister using different words. Use दिदी (didī) specifically for an elder sister and बहिनी (bahinī) for a younger sister.
How do you pronounce it?
didī
Did you know?
- The word दिदी (didī) is thought to have originated as an onomatopoeic nursery word, similar to how English speakers might use 'mama' or 'papa'.
- The word बहिनी shares a direct linguistic ancestor with the Sanskrit word bhaginī, which originally referred to a 'sharer' of a common destiny or property.
- Depending on the region, some speakers may use दिदी to address a female teacher or a senior colleague to show respect and intimacy simultaneously.
Examples in context
- तिम्री बहिनीलाई कस्तो छ?How is your sister?This sentence is useful for asking about the well-being of a sister using बहिनी.Tatoeba #11804664 by taro, translation #2648120 by CK
- मेरी आफ्नी बहिनी जस्ति छैनन्।Mary isn't like her sister.This sentence is useful for making a comparison involving a sister using बहिनी.Tatoeba #11858228 by taro, translation #6428630 by CF
- उनकी बहिनी र म असल साथी बन्नेछौं।Her sister and I will become good friends.This sentence is useful for describing a future relationship between the speaker and a sister using बहिनी.Tatoeba #11763940 by taro, translation #9202841 by Nylez
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Pratiksha is introducing her older sister to Roshan.
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaरोशन, उहाँ मेरी दिदी हो।Roshan, uha meri didi ho.Roshan, she is my sister.
- रोशन Roshanनमस्ते दिदी, तपाईँलाई भेटेर खुसी लाग्यो।Namaste didi, tapailai bheter khusi lagyo.Hello sister, I am glad to meet you.
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaउहाँ सहरमा पढ्नुहुन्छ।Uha saharma padhnuhunchha.She studies in the city.
- रोशन Roshanवाह, तपाईँको दिदी धेरै असल हुनुहुन्छ।Wah, tapaikko didi dherai asal hunuhunchha.Wow, your sister is very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries दिदी, बहिनी, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries दिदी, बहिनी, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
