Family Relations in Malayalam

This list covers the most common Malayalam words for family members, from parents and siblings to in-laws and relatives. Malayalam kinship terms are more specific than English: there are separate words for elder and younger siblings, and for maternal and paternal uncles and aunts. These terms are used constantly in daily Kerala life, often as respectful forms of address even for non-relatives.

MalayalamPronunciationEnglish
അമ്മammamother
അച്ഛൻachanfather
ചേട്ടൻchettanelder brother
അനിയൻaniyanyounger brother
ചേച്ചിchechielder sister
അനിയത്തിaniyathiyounger sister
സഹോദരൻsahodaranbrother (formal)
സഹോദരിsahodarisister (formal)
മകൻmakanson
മകൾmakaldaughter
അപ്പൂപ്പൻappooppangrandfather
അമ്മൂമ്മammoommagrandmother
അമ്മാവൻammaavanuncle (mother's brother)
വല്യച്ഛൻvalyachanuncle (father's elder brother)
ചിറ്റപ്പൻchittappanuncle (father's younger brother)
അമ്മായിammaayiaunt (uncle's wife / father's sister)
വലിയമ്മvaliyammaaunt (mother's elder sister)
ചെറിയമ്മcheriyammaaunt (mother's younger sister)
ഭർത്താവ്bharthaavuhusband
ഭാര്യbhaaryawife
അമ്മായിയമ്മammaayiyammamother-in-law
അമ്മായിയപ്പൻammaayiyappanfather-in-law
കുടുംബംkudumbamfamily
ബന്ധുക്കൾbandhukkalrelatives
കുട്ടിkuttichild
കുഞ്ഞ്kunjubaby

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