ਪਤੀPatiHusband
Pati (ਪਤੀ) means husband in Punjabi — the man a woman is married to. It is the standard, slightly formal word used in writing, documents, and polite conversation.
Who is your Pati?
Pati is a term of reference rather than address: traditionally a Punjabi wife did not call her husband by name at all, a custom of modesty in which he was mentioned obliquely as the children's father or with phrases like ghar wale — "the one of the house." Modern couples are far more direct, but the word pati still belongs to careful, formal speech more than to the kitchen table.
How it's used
A woman uses pati when speaking about her husband to others, typically with respectful plural verbs. Example: "ਮੇਰੇ ਪਤੀ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ" (Mere pati Dilli vich kamm karde han) — "My husband works in Delhi."
Where Pati comes from
Pati is the Sanskrit for 'husband, lord, master of the house' — an ancient Indo-European word for a household's head.
Pati vs similar terms
The same man holds different titles around the family: he is pati to his wife, jawai (son-in-law) to her parents, and jijaji to her younger brothers and sisters. Punjabi names the viewpoint, not just the person.
Frequently asked questions
What does Pati mean in Punjabi?
Pati (ਪਤੀ) means husband. It is the standard Punjabi term for the man a woman is married to, used mainly in formal speech and writing; casual conversation often prefers phrases like ghar wale.
Do Punjabi wives call their husbands Pati?
Not usually as a direct address. Pati is used when talking about a husband, not to him. Traditionally wives avoided even saying his name; today most simply use his name or an affectionate nickname.
Related terms
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