दाइ / दिदी / बहिनी

Calling People by Family Words

Level 1Sounds Like dā'i, didī ra bahinī

Nepali speakers call people outside the family by family words.

How It Works

When you speak to a waiter, a driver or a neighbour, people usually use a family word and not a name. It shows respect and warmth.

WordWho
दाइa man a little older than you
दिदीa woman a little older than you
भाइa boy or a younger man
बहिनीa girl or a younger woman

You can use these words alone to call someone: दाइ! Or you can put them at the start of a sentence: दिदी, यो कति हो? (sister, how much is this?).

The verb follows the level of respect you use. With दाइ and दिदी, speak as you would to someone older, with तपाईं and -नुहुन्छ. With भाइ and बहिनी, तिमी is usual. Use the words even with a person you have just met: they are not rude or too close, only friendly.

Examples (5)

  1. दाइ, एक कप चिया दिनुहोस्।

    Brother, please give me a cup of tea.

    दाइ calls the man who serves, and दिनुहोस् is the polite request.

  2. दिदी, यो कति हो?

    Sister, how much is this?

    दिदी is how you address a woman a little older than you.

  3. बहिनी, तिमी कहाँ जान्छ्यौ?

    Little sister, where are you going?

    बहिनी is for a younger girl, and तिमी fits her.

  4. भाइ, यहाँ आऊ।

    Younger brother, come here.

    भाइ is for a boy, and आऊ is the friendly command.

  5. दाइ, यो बस काठमाडौं जान्छ?

    Brother, does this bus go to Kathmandu?

    दाइ is a polite way to call a driver or a conductor.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

दाइ / दिदी / बहिनीLevel 1Calling People by Family Words

Learn This First

Family words are used as polite titles, and the choice depends on respect.

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Patterns that build on this one.