ताई / दादा / काका / मावशी

Calling People by Family Words

Level 1Sounds Like tā'ī / dādā / kākā / māvaśī

With a stranger, use तुम्ही and the -ा forms with these words: काका, तुम्ही कुठे राहता?

How It Works

WordWhoExample
ताईa young woman, an older sisterताई, पाणी द्या.
दादाa young man, an older brotherदादा, चहा द्या.
काकाan older man, an uncleकाका, इथे बसा.
मावशीan older woman, an auntमावशी, नमस्कार.

The word goes at the start of the sentence, before the question or the request: दादा, दोन चहा द्या.

Use तुम्ही when you call a stranger by these words, because they are a sign of respect. A real older sister or brother is addressed as तू. The verb takes the -ा or -ता form: काका, तुम्ही कुठे राहता?

Other family words are used in the same way: आजी (grandmother), आजोबा (grandfather), मामा, मामी, आत्या and काकू. For teachers, use सर and मॅडम.

Examples (5)

  1. ताई, हा रस्ता कुठे जातो?

    Excuse me, ताई, where does this road go?

    ताई is a polite way to call a young woman.

  2. दादा, दोन चहा द्या.

    Two teas, please, दादा.

    दादा is a polite way to call a young man.

  3. काका, तुम्ही कुठे राहता?

    Uncle, where do you live?

    काका goes with तुम्ही and राहता.

  4. मावशी, पाणी द्या.

    Please give me water, मावशी.

    मावशी is a polite way to call an older woman.

  5. तो माझा दादा आहे.

    He is my older brother.

    Here दादा is a real family member.

Common Mistakes

  • Using तू with an older stranger.

    मावशी, तू कुठे राहतेस?
    मावशी, तुम्ही कुठे राहता?

    With a stranger, these words ask for तुम्ही. A real relative may use तू.

How It Connects

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ताई / दादा / काका / मावशीLevel 1Calling People by Family Words

Learn This First

People are called by relationship words, and the polite you goes with them.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

दादाकाकामावशी