ଭଉଣୀ
bhauṇi/bʱɔuɳi/
The Odia word for "sister" is ଭଉଣୀ (bhauṇi).
ଭଉଣୀ refers to a woman or girl who shares the same parents. Beyond biological relationships, the term can be used to address a female contemporary or a younger female as a sign of respect or familiarity.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ଭଉଣୀ is the standard and formal way to say sister. There is also a formal term ବହିଣୀ used for sister.
How do you pronounce it?
/bʱɔuɳi/
When do people say it?
In Odia culture, the term ଭଉଣୀ can be used to address a female contemporary or a younger female as a sign of respect or familiarity, even if there is no biological relation.
Did you know?
- The Odia word ଭଉଣୀ is derived from the Sanskrit word bhaginī, which shares a root with the word for 'share' or 'portion'.
- In Odisha, the bond between a brother and ଭଉଣୀ is celebrated during the festival of Raksha Bandhan, where a sister ties a sacred thread around her brother's wrist.
- Calling a female stranger ଭଉଣୀ is a common way for men in Odisha to establish a platonic, respectful boundary that signals the woman is viewed as a family member.
Examples in context
- ସେ ମୋର ବଡ଼ ଭଉଣୀ ।Se mora bada bhauṇī.She is my elder sister.
- ତୁମ ଭଉଣୀ କେଉଁଠି ଅଛନ୍ତି?Tuma bhauṇī keunthi achanti?Where is your sister?
- ମୋ ଭଉଣୀ ଜଣେ ଡାକ୍ତର ।Mo bhauṇī jane dāktara.My sister is a doctor.
Example conversation
Akash is introducing his family to Priyanka.
- ଆକାଶ Akashପ୍ରିୟାଙ୍କା, ଏଇଟା ମୋ ଭଉଣୀ।Priyankā, e iṭā mo bhauṇī.Priyanka, this is my sister.
- ପ୍ରିୟାଙ୍କା Priyankaନମସ୍କାର, ତୁମେ କେମିତି ଅଛ?Namaskāra, tume kemiti achha?Hello, how are you?
- ଆକାଶ Akashସେ ମୋର ବଡ଼ ଭଉଣୀ।Se mora baḍa bhauṇī.She is my elder sister.
- ପ୍ରିୟାଙ୍କା Priyankaତାଙ୍କୁ ମିଳିତ ହୋଇ ଖୁସି ଲଗିଲା।Tāṅku mili ta hoi khusi lagilā.It is nice to meet her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations and entries ଭଉଣୀ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ଭଉଣୀ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
