ममेरी बहनMameri BehenCousin (Maternal Uncle's daughter)
Mameri Behen (ममेरी बहन) is your maternal uncle's daughter — the girl born to your mother's brother, your Mama, and his wife, your Mami. Where English settles for cousin, Hindi bakes the exact route into the word: mameri signals the Mama connection, and behen declares that she counts as a sister.
Who is your Mameri Behen?
In North Indian families, cousins are not a separate category of relative — they are brothers and sisters, full stop, and marriage between them is unthinkable for precisely that reason. A mameri behen often becomes the closest thing to a sister for a child with no sisters at home, since visits to the nanihal, the mother's childhood house, throw the cousins together for weeks at a time. At her wedding, your mother's family is her family, so your side shows up not as guests but as hosts.
How it's used
The term appears when you describe the relationship; in person you call her by name, or didi if she is older. For instance: "मेरी ममेरी बहन की शादी अगले महीने है, पूरा ननिहाल जुट रहा है" — "My mameri behen's (maternal uncle's daughter's) wedding is next month, and the whole maternal family is gathering."
Mameri Behen vs similar terms
Keep the four cousin-sisters apart by their parent: a mameri behen is your Mama's daughter, a mauseri behen is your Mausi's daughter, a chacheri behen is your Chacha's daughter, and a phupheri behen is your Bua's daughter. Same English word, four different Hindi relatives.
Frequently asked questions
What does Mameri Behen mean in Hindi?
Mameri Behen (ममेरी बहन) means your maternal uncle's daughter — the daughter of your mother's brother (Mama). She is a first cousin in English terms, treated and addressed as a sister in Hindi families.
What is the difference between Mameri Behen and Chacheri Behen?
A mameri behen is a cousin from your mother's side — your Mama's daughter. A chacheri behen is from your father's side — the daughter of your Chacha, your father's younger brother.
Related terms
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