मौसीजीMausijiMaternal Aunt
Mausiji (मौसीजी) is your mother's sister — the maternal aunt in Hindi families, older or younger than your mother alike. Her husband is your Mausaji, and the shorter form Mausi is what most children actually say.
How your Mausiji connects to you
Who is your Mausiji?
A folk saying explains the word itself: Mausi is maa si, like a mother — and the culture largely lives up to it. As your mother's own sister she shares her childhood, her habits, even her scolding style, so children often treat a Mausi's house as a second home where the rules bend a little. When mothers need help with a newborn or a wedding, the Mausi is usually first to arrive.
How it's used
Children address her as Mausiji or Mausi, ordinarily with aap. Example: "मौसीजी, माँ ने आपको फोन करने को कहा है" (Mausiji, maa ne aapko phone karne ko kaha hai) — Mausiji, mother asked me to call you. Between sisters' families the term flows both ways — each sister is Mausi to the other's children.
Where Mausiji comes from
Mausi comes from the Sanskrit mātṛṣvasṛ — literally 'mother's sister' — worn down over centuries to mausi. The word still carries mata, 'mother', inside it.
Mausiji vs similar terms
Mausi is your mother's sister; Bua is your father's sister — the commonest mix-up among Hindi aunt words. Mami, meanwhile, is an aunt only by marriage, as your maternal uncle's wife. All three occupy different branches of the same tree.
Did you know?
A mausi's house is the heart of a classic childhood — those long summers at your nanihal (mother's parents' home), where mausis are famous for spoiling their nieces and nephews rotten.
Frequently asked questions
What does Mausiji mean in Hindi?
Mausiji (मौसीजी) means your mother's sister — your maternal aunt by blood. The word covers all sisters of your mother, whatever their age, and her husband is called Mausaji.
What is the difference between Mausi and Bua?
Mausi is your mother's sister and belongs to the maternal side; Bua is your father's sister on the paternal side. Hindi assigns each aunt to her parent of origin, so the two never overlap.
Related terms
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