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Relatives

Click each Romanised Teochew word to listen to how the Teochew word is pronounced.

English

Teochew

grandfather

kon3

paternal grandfather

lai20kon3

maternal grandfather

gua0kon3

grandmother

ma4

paternal grandmother

lai20ma4

maternal grandmother

gua0ma4

father

pa2, pe2

father (when addressing)

pa2, a3pa2, pa20pa2, tia3, a3tia3, tia3tia3

mother

ai1, bo4, bo42chin3

mother (when addressing)

ai1, a3ai1, bo4, a3bo4, bo42chin3

husband

an3, (formal: zian0hu3)

wife

bou4, (formal: hu3jin1)

son/one’s child

kia`4, ji1

son

tao3kia`4, nam10ji1

daughter

zao42kia`4, nng10ji1

one’s child

nou1

daughter-in-law

sin3pu2

son-in-law

kia`42sai5

father-in-law (husband’s father)

ta42kua`3

mother-in-law (husband’s mother)

ta42ke3

father-in-law (wife’s father)

g`ag10pe2

mother-in-law (wife’s mother)

g`ag10bo4

daughter'-in-law’s/son-in-law’s father

chin3ke3

daughter'-in-law’s/son-in-law’s mother

che`3m4

grandchild/grandson

sun3

grandson

nam10sun3

granddaughter

nng10sun3

great grandchildren

hian10sun3

great-great grandchildren

zen3sun3

great grandfather

lao20kon3

paternal great grandfather

lao20lai20kon3

maternal great grandfather

lao20gua0kon3

great-great grandfather

zou42kon3

great-great grandmother

zou42ma4

elder brother

hia`3

elder brother’s wife

so4

elder sister

ze4

elder sister’s husband

nng1

younger brother

ti2

younger brother’s wife

sio42m4  (formal: ti20hu2)

younger sister

mue0

younger sister’s husband

mue0sai5

paternal uncle (older than one’s father)

ped0

wife of “ped0

m4

paternal grand uncle (older than one’s paternal grandfather)

lao20ped0

wife of “lao20ped0

lao20m4

paternal great grand uncle (older than one’s paternal great grandfather)

zou42ped0

wife of “zou42ped0

zou42m4

paternal uncle (younger than one’s father)

zeig0  (variant: zeg0)

wife of “zeig0

sim4

paternal grand uncle (younger than one’s paternal grandfather)

lao20zeig0  (variant: lao20zeg0)

wife of “lao20zeig0

lao20sim4

paternal great grand uncle (younger than one’s paternal great grandfather)

zou42zeig0  (variant: zou42zeg0)

wife of “zou42zeig0

zou42sim4

maternal uncle (mother’s brother)

ku2

wife of maternal uncle

kim2

maternal grand uncle

lao20ku2

wife of “lao20ku2

lao20kim

maternal great grand uncle

zou42ku2

wife of “zou42ku2

zou42kim2

paternal auntie

kou3

husband of paternal auntie

kou3tio`2^

maternal auntie

i1

husband of maternal auntie

i10tio`2^

paternal grand auntie

lao20kou3

maternal grand auntie

lao20i1

paternal great grand auntie

zou42kou3

maternal great grand auntie

zou42i1

paternal elder cousin brother

than10hia`3

maternal elder cousin sister

pio42ze4

maternal younger cousin sister

pio42mue0

 

^ address as a3tio`2, not as kou3tio`2 or i10tio`2; but if more than 1 tio`2, then address as tua0tio`2, ji20tio`2, sa`3tio`2, etc.

 

Note 1: When addressing a relative, add prefix “a3” if the term for the relative consists of only one word, e.g. a3kon3 (grandfather), a3hia`3 (elder brother), a3mue0 (younger sister).

 

Note 2: When one has more than 1 relative of the term (e.g. hia`3), use position prefixes tua0 (eldest), ji20 (2nd), sa`3 (3rd), si54 (4th), …. soi54 (youngest), e.g. tua0hia`3, ji20ze4, si54ti2, soi54mue0, sa`3i1, lao20ji20zeg0, etc.

 

Note 3: When addressing wife’s/husband’s relatives, follow one’s children in the old days but follow one’s wife/husband in this modern age.

 

Note 4: Plural and singular use the same terms.

 


 

Teochew Words & Phrases

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