श्रीमती
shrimati
The Nepali word for wife is श्रीमती (shrimati).
श्रीमती refers to a female partner in a marriage. In addition to meaning wife, it is used as a formal title or honorific prefix for married women, functioning similarly to the English 'Mrs.'
Meaning: female partner in a marriage (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
श्रीमती is a formal and respectful way to say wife. Another formal and respectful option is Patni. For highly informal or colloquial speech, particularly among men, the term बुढी is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
श्रीमती is a noun that does not change its form to indicate plurality in common usage. Instead, plurality is typically indicated by the surrounding context or verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
shrimati
Did you know?
- While श्रीमती is a respectful title, the colloquial term बुढी literally translates to 'old woman' or 'old lady' in many contexts, though it is used affectionately between spouses.
- The term श्रीमती shares the same root as the word 'wealth' or 'prosperity' in many Indo-Aryan languages, implying that a wife brings auspiciousness to a household.
- In traditional Nepali households, it was historically common for husbands to avoid using the wife's name, referring to her instead by titles like श्रीमती or roles like 'mother of [child's name]'.
Examples in context
- टमकि सुन्दर श्रीमती छिन्।Tom has a beautiful wife.This sentence shows how to describe someone's wife using श्रीमती.Tatoeba #12341969 by taro, translation #1025513 by CK
- उनी मेरी भावी श्रीमती हुन् ।She is my future wife.This sentence uses श्रीमती to refer to a future wife.Tatoeba #11855654 by taro, translation #10743442 by carlosalberto
- के तपाई आफ्नी श्रीमती संग बस्दै हुनुहुन्छ?Do you live with your wife?This sentence is useful for asking if someone lives with their wife using श्रीमती.Tatoeba #12296752 by taro, translation #12235379 by Miktsoanit
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are talking about their families during a lunch break.
- सृजना Srijanaअविनाश, तपाईंकी श्रीमती कस्तो छिन्?Avinash, tapaipankī śrīmatī kasto chin?Avinash, how is your wife?
- अविनाश Avinashउनी एकदमै राम्रो छिन्, सृजना।Uni ekdamai rāmro chin, Srijanā.She is very good, Srijana.
- सृजना Srijanaके उनी पनि काम गर्नुहुन्छ?Ke uni pani kām garnuhuncha?Does she also work?
- अविनाश Avinashहजुर, उनी बैंकमा काम गर्नुहुन्छ।Hajur, uni bank mā kām garnuhuncha.Yes, she works at a bank.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
