Relations

Though I think in English, write in English, speak Tamil, English, Hindi sometimes Marathi , Tamil does seep into my writings, only in the blogs though. So I feel the need to have this glossary of Tamil words, this would helps readers with other blogs also, so please free to add words, phrases... This was the original idea behind this post, but, it has tuned out into something else. It has turned out into a list of terms used for various relatives in Tamil. I am open to suggestions...

Amma   mother

Appa    father

thatha   grandfather (Paternal or maternal)  attach their name as a prefix to thatha or a nick. 

 

Patti    Grandmother (Paternal or maternal) same goes for grandmas

Peran   Grandson

Petthi  Grand daughter

Anna    Elder brother

Akka   Elder sister (no reference in my blogs as I don't have one)

Unfortunately the younger siblings, always the sidekicks are never referred to by the term of reference nobody calls the younger brother thambi also every south Indian Tea stall owner or worker is referred to as thambi. I believe there is a restaurant called Thambi. Or younger sister is not refereed to as thangai or thangachi.

Ma(a)ma  Maternal Uncle (irrespective of elder or younger to mom).

 Ma(a)mi   his wife

Chitti         Mom's younger sister

Chittappa  Her husband, now chitappa can be your father's younger brother also and chitti, his wife. Then you had their names as prefix.

Periyappa Father's older brother

Peryiamma His wife, now again, mom's older sister is also periyamma and he husband periyappa. To make it easier add names.

Trivia, what if your chitti (mom's sister) and the other chitti (father's younger brother's wife) have the same name, good question, life has played a bad joke on you. Just joking. In such situations one of the chittis has to give up her name. No, we don't change the name just the reference, her place of domicile becomes the point of reference, or physical attribute, we come up with weird ideas..

eg. Jam Mani ( jam short for Jamshedpur and Mani short for Subramanian)

 Goondu Lali ( Fat Lali, obviously because she is rotund in comparison to the thinner Lalitha)

Then there is, chinna Ambi, Ambi is a common nick for boys down south, therefore there ought to a few Periya Ambis too, i.e older Ambi. A household could have many ambis, no questions asked.

Athai   Father's sister (irrespective of elder or younger to dad)

Athimber father's sister's husband, one's older sister's husband is also called Athimber. So please remember to add their name when calling out.

If you are a girl, then your paternal aunt's daughter is atanga and you are amanga to her. Sounds like name of a mango pickle that I like.

Great grandfather (GGf) is kollu thatha and his wife kollu patti, great great grandfather is ellu thatha and great great grandmother (GGm) is ellu patti.

If you are great grand daughter then you are a kollu petthi to your GGparents and ellu petthi.

This all I can think of, everybody,anybody feel free to make additions, correct ones please if possible with explanation.

Love to know what your father's sister -in-law's niece's brother is called in any language?

எஙல் குடும்பம் நல்ல குடும்பம்.