बीवी (biivii)

noun A single-sense everyday word meaning 'wife'; informal and warm in tone, borrowed from Persian/Urdu.
Sense 1 : wife
noun, feminine
Synonyms: पत्नी (patnii, formal), श्रीमती (shriimtii, formal/polite), घरवाली (gharvaalii, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: बीवी (biivii) is the word you'll hear in everyday banter, Bollywood dialogue, and jokes about married life -- it carries a certain earthy, домestic warmth that पत्नी (patnii) lacks. Men often refer to their wives as मेरी बीवी (merii biivii, 'my wife') in casual conversation with friends, while पत्नी (patnii) shows up more in forms, news, or when speaking respectfully to elders.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use बीवी (biivii) in formal or written contexts where पत्नी (patnii) is expected -- बीवी (biivii) is fine and common in speech but sounds too casual in official forms or introductions to elders. 2) Don't confuse with बीबी (biibii), an older/regional spelling variant with the same meaning -- both are heard, but बीवी (biivii) is the more common spelling around Delhi-NCR today.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी बीवी आज बाज़ार गई है। My wife has gone to the market today.
(merii biivii aaj baazaar gaii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी बीवी बहुत अच्छा खाना बनाती है। His wife cooks really good food.
(uskii biivii bahut achchhaa khaanaa banaatii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यार, बीवी को खुश रखना कोई आसान काम नहीं है। Dude, keeping the wife happy is no easy task.
(yaar, biivii ko khush rakhnaa koii aasaan kaam nahiin hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर मेरी बीवी को पता चल जाता, तो घर में तूफ़ान आ जाता। If my wife had found out, there would have been a storm at home.
(agar merii biivii ko pataa chal jaataa, to ghar men toofaan aa jaataa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
पहले तो वह अकेला रहता था, अब उसकी बीवी भी साथ रहती है। Earlier he used to live alone, now his wife lives with him too.
(pahle to vah akelaa rahtaa thaa, ab uskii biivii bhii saath rahtii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उसने अपनी बीवी से झगड़ा किया और फिर माफ़ी माँग ली। He had a fight with his wife and then apologized.
(usne apnii biivii se jhagdaa kiyaa aur phir maafii maang lii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अपनी बीवी की इज़्ज़त करो, यार। Respect your wife, man.
(apnii biivii kii izzat karo, yaar।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
शायद उसकी बीवी उसे माफ़ कर दे। Maybe his wife will forgive him.
(shaayad uskii biivii use maaf kar de।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इस फिल्म में हीरो अपनी बीवी के लिए सब कुछ छोड़ देता है। In this film, the hero gives up everything for his wife.
(is philm men hiiro apnii biivii ke lie sab kuchh chhod detaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बीवी बच्चों के साथ पार्क में बैठी है। The wife is sitting in the park with the kids.
(biivii bachchon ke saath paark men baithii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसकी बीवी को हर जगह घुमाया जाता है, वो बहुत लकी है। His wife gets taken everywhere, she's really lucky.
(uskii biivii ko har jagah ghumaayaa jaataa hai, vo bahut lakii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बीवी (biivii)
(sg.f.oblique): बीवी (biivii)
(pl.f.direct): बीवियाँ (biiviyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): बीवियों (biiviyon)