భార్య
bhārya/bʱaːɾja/
The English word 'wife' is translated into Telugu as భార్య (bhārya). Wiktionary also lists ఆలి (āli).
Meaning: female partner in a marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Telugu | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| భార్య | bhārya | /bʱaːɾja/ |
| ఆలి | āli | /aːl̪i/ |
Both భార్య and ఆలి refer to a female partner in a marriage.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /bʱaːɾja/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Telugu households, a husband may avoid saying his wife's name aloud out of respect or social custom. Instead, he might refer to her using a phrase like మా ఆవిడ, which translates to 'my lady'.
- The word ఆలి is an ancient term inherited from Proto-Dravidian, making it much older in the region than the Sanskrit-derived భార్య. This reflects two different linguistic layers of history meeting in one concept.
- In formal Telugu literature and poetry, the concept of a wife is often linked to the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of prosperity. Using words for 'wife' in these contexts can evoke a sense of divine auspiciousness for the home.
Examples in context
- ఆమె నా భార్య.aame naa bhaarya.She is my wife.
- అతని భార్య డాక్టర్.atani bhaarya doctor.His wife is a doctor.
- నీ భార్య ఎక్కడ ఉంది?nee bhaarya ekkada undi?Where is your wife?
Example conversation
Sai is introducing his spouse to Lakshmi.
- సాయి Saiలక్ష్మి, ఈమె నా భార్య.Lakshmi, eeme naa bhaarya.Lakshmi, this is my wife.
- లక్ష్మి Lakshmiమిమ్మల్ని కలవడం సంతోషంగా ఉంది.Mimmalni kalavadam santhoshangaa undi.I am happy to meet you.
- సాయి Saiధన్యవాదాలు లక్ష్మి.Dhanyavaadaalu Lakshmi.Thank you, Lakshmi.
- లక్ష్మి Lakshmiమీ భార్య చాలా బాగున్నారు.Mee bhaarya chaalaa baagunnaaru.Your wife is very nice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wife” translations and entries భార్య, ఆలి, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
