Ways to say it
| Gujarati | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| પત્ની | patnī | /ˈpət̪.ni/ (Gujarati, Standard) | feminine |
| બૈરી | bairī | feminine | |
| ભાર્યા | bhāryā | /ˈbʱɑɾ.jɑ/ (Gujarati, Standard) | feminine |
| સ્ત્રી | strī | /ˈst̪ɾi/ (Gujarati, Standard) | feminine |
| જોરૂ | jorū | feminine | |
| વહુ | vahu | /ˈʋə.ɦu/ (Gujarati, Standard) | feminine |
| નારી | nārī | /ˈnɑ.ɾi/ (Gujarati, Standard) | feminine |
| બાઈડી | bāīḍī | /ˈbɑi.ɽi/ (Gujarati, Standard) | feminine |
| ઓરત | orat | /ˈɔ.ɾət̪/ (Gujarati, Standard) | feminine |
| બીબી | bībī | feminine |
Which one should you use?
While many forms exist, they carry different meanings: સ્ત્રી means "woman" in general and is not a specific term for a wife unless used in a specific descriptive context. વહુ is most commonly used to mean "daughter-in-law" in a family context, though it can mean "wife" in certain contexts. બીબી is an informal term for wife, often used in specific community dialects or influenced by Urdu/Hindi.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
પત્ની is the standard, formal and most polite way to say "wife" in Gujarati. ભાર્યા is also a formal way to say "wife". In contrast, બૈરી is a colloquial and sometimes considered less respectful way to refer to a wife compared to પત્ની.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of પત્ની is patnī (/ˈpət̪.ni/). It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1 of 2.
Did you know?
- The formal word ભાર્યા comes from the Sanskrit root for 'burden' or 'load'. It implies that a wife is someone who is 'worthy of being supported' or 'borne' by her husband.
- In traditional Gujarati households, a husband rarely refers to his wife by her name. Instead, he may use indirect phrases or avoid the name entirely to show respect or modesty.
- The term બીબી is a linguistic traveler, arriving in Gujarati via Persian and Urdu influence, which reflects the complex historical layers of trade and culture in the region.
Examples in context
- તેની પત્ની ખૂબ જ દયાળુ છે.tēnī patnī khūba ja dayālu chē.His wife is very kind.
Example conversation
At a small social gathering where two acquaintances meet.
- દ્રષ્ટિ Drishtiનિલય, તમારી પત્ની ક્યાં છે?Nilay, tamārī patnī kyāṅ chē?Nilay, where is your wife?
- નિલય Nilayતે ઘરે છે.Tē gharē chē.She is at home.
- દ્રષ્ટિ Drishtiતમારી પત્ની ખૂબ સારી વ્યક્તિ છે.Tamārī patnī khūba sārī vyakti chē.Your wife is a very good person.
- નિલય Nilayઆભાર, દ્રષ્ટિ.Ābhāra, Drashti.Thank you, Drishti.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries પત્ની, બૈરી, ભાર્યા, સ્ત્રી, વહુ, નારી, બાઈડી, ઓરત, બીબી, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries પત્ની, ભાર્યા, સ્ત્રી, CC BY-SA 4.0.
