पत्नीPatniWife
Patni (पत्नी) means wife in Hindi — the woman a man is married to. It is the formal counterpart to pati, and the pair pati-patni is the standard Hindi phrase for a married couple. On a family tree, patni identifies the wife in any marriage.
Who is your Patni?
Hindu wedding vows describe the patni as dharampatni — the lawful partner in dharma — and the older ideal of ardhangini, literally half of one's own being, frames the wife as the inseparable half of her husband rather than a subordinate. Practically, the patni traditionally managed the household and its finances, earning the affectionate title grihalakshmi, the Lakshmi of the house. Modern couples divide roles far more evenly, but the vocabulary still carries that older reverence.
How it's used
Like pati, patni is used to refer rather than to address — a man introduces yeh meri patni hain but calls his wife by her name or an endearment. In formal writing, shrimati precedes a married woman's name. For example: "Meri patni school mein padhaati hain." — "My wife teaches at a school."
Patni vs similar terms
One woman, many titles: she is patni to her husband, bahu to his parents, bhabhi to his younger siblings, and devrani or jethani to his brothers' wives. Patni names only the bond between the spouses themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What does Patni mean in Hindi?
Patni means wife in Hindi. It is the formal word for the female spouse, heard in phrases like pati-patni (husband and wife) and dharampatni, the ceremonial term used in Hindu weddings.
What is the difference between Patni, Bahu, and Bhabhi?
All three can describe the same woman from different viewpoints: she is patni (wife) to her husband, bahu (daughter-in-law) to his parents, and bhabhi (brother's wife) to his siblings. Which word applies depends on your own place in the family.
Related terms
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