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Words /Apellations Referring to Various Types of Relationships

Posted by on February 20, 2015

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.

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