All Hindi terms

दामादDamaadSon-in-law

Damaad (दामाद) is your son-in-law — the man who married your daughter. In many regions you will also hear jamai or jawai for the same relationship; damaad is the standard Hindi term.

Who is your Damaad?

Tradition treats the damaad as a guest of honour who never quite becomes ordinary: the phrase jamai raja, the son-in-law as king, is only half a joke. He is served the best food, seated first, and traditionally never asked to lift a finger in his in-laws' home — a courtesy rooted in the idea that the family that gave him a daughter remains forever slightly in his debt. The flip side is the old stigma against the ghar jamai, the son-in-law who moves in with his wife's parents, which shows how carefully the role's boundaries were once policed.

How it's used

Parents-in-law say damaad or damaad ji when speaking of him, and address him by name or affectionately as beta. For example: "हमारे दामाद जी दिवाली पर मिठाई लेकर आए" — "Our damaad (son-in-law) brought sweets on Diwali."

Damaad vs similar terms

The damaad is the mirror of the bahu: he is your daughter's husband, she is your son's wife, and custom scripts them almost oppositely — the damaad as a pampered guest, the bahu historically as a working member of the house. To your other children the same man is jijaji.

Frequently asked questions

What does Damaad mean in Hindi?

Damaad (दामाद) means son-in-law — your daughter's husband. Regional synonyms include jamai and jawai, and he is traditionally received with special honour in his in-laws' home.

What is the difference between Damaad and Jijaji?

The same man, different speakers: the parents of the bride call him damaad, while her siblings call him jijaji. Damaad marks the parent-to-son-in-law relationship; jijaji marks the sibling-to-sister's-husband one.

Related terms

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