Although it might be more appropriate to class this post as a vocabulary item, for practical reasons I have decided to include it here in the Spoken Konkani section.
The list given below is admittedly limited to the usage mostly among Goan Catholics and not all Konkani speaking people. The reason is not that we are not interested in Konkani spoken elsewhere, but only that we are not competent enough to represent them. Secondly, it is not an exhaustive enumeration of all types of relationships. More words will be added by and by, and as we get more suggestions and contributions, this section will be edited and enlarged.
Apellation | Relationship | Apellation | Relationship | |
Pay |
Father | Mãy | Mother | |
Ghôv, Ghorkar |
Husband | Bail, Ghorkarn |
Wife | |
Put |
Son | Dhuv |
Daughter | |
Bhav |
Brother | Bhoinn |
Sister | |
Irmanv |
Elder brother | Mana |
Elder sister | |
Akoi |
Father’s sister General) | Mavxi |
Mother’s sister (general) | |
Akoimãy |
Father’s elder sister | Mavximãy |
Mother’s elder sister | |
Akoimana |
Father’s younger sister | Mavximana |
Mother’s younger sister | |
Tiv, Titiv |
Father’s brother (general) | Mam, Mamti |
Mother’s brother | |
tiê |
Paternal uncle’s wife | Mami |
Maternal uncle’s wife | |
Titivlo 1 |
Father’s younger brother | Mamulo 1 |
Mother’s younger brother | |
Azo |
Grandfather | Aji |
Grandmother | |
Xapay |
Paternal grandfather | Papay |
Maternal grandfather | |
Xamãy |
Paternal grandmother | Mamãy |
Maternal grandmother | |
Natu |
Grandson | Nat |
Granddaughter | |
Manv |
Husband’s father | Sasupay |
Wife’s father | |
Ghorkarnmãy |
Husband’s mother | Sasumãy |
Wife’s mother | |
Saddu |
Wife’s sister’s husband | Zav |
Husband’s brother’s wife | |
Dêr |
Husband’s brother | Mivnno |
Wife’s brother | |
Nonnôn |
Husband’s sister | Mivnni |
Wife’s sister | |
Vhoni |
Brother’s wife | Kunhad 2 |
Sister’s husband | |
Sun |
Daughter-in-law | Zanvui 3 |
Son-in-law | |
Bhapulbhav |
Father’s brother’s son | Bhapulbhoinn |
Father’s brother’s daughter | |
Mavxibhav |
Mother’s sister’s son | Mavxibhoinn |
Mother’s sister’s daughter | |
Soiro, i, em |
Relative | Xezari, xezarn |
Neighbour | |
Ixtt, amig |
Male friend | Ixttinn, amig |
Female friend | |
Padrinh, Podôrn |
Godfather | Madrinh, Modôrn |
Godmother | |
Filiad |
Godchild | Daiji |
Distant relation | |
Vei |
Son–in-law’s or daughter-in-law’s father | Vênn |
Son–in-law’s or daughter-in-law’s mother | |
Ponnttu |
Great grandson | Purvôz |
Ancestor |
1. The diminutives Titivlo and Mamulo are very informal, almost slang, yet not disrespectful
2. Kunhad comes from the Portuguese word cunhado
3. Ghorzanvui is a son-in-law who makes his home at the in-laws’, usually because his wife is the only child
Note: You will notice some uncovered gaps in the list of relationships. For example, what is a father’s sister’s son called? Such lacunae seem to occur in cases of asymmetry within that section of the family tree. That could be attributed either to the language’s natural affinity for symmetry or perhaps to the fact that I may not be knowledgeable enough on the matter. Your contributions in this regard are therefore welcome.