रिश्तेदार (rishtedaar)

noun A single, straightforward sense: a relative or family member, related to रिश्ता (rishtaa, 'relationship, bond').
Sense 1 : relative, family member
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: संबंधी (sambandhii, formal), नाते-रिश्तेदार (naate-rishtedaar, collective/plural feel)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In most Indian households, रिश्तेदार (rishtedaar) casts a wide net -- it covers everyone from your first cousin to your father's second cousin's in-laws, since Hindi speakers tend to fold a large network of extended kin into one active social circle. You'll hear this word constantly around weddings and festivals, when families are busy inviting, hosting, or gossiping about their रिश्तेदार (rishtedaar).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes assume रिश्तेदार (rishtedaar) changes form for masculine/feminine like many nouns -- it does not; the same word covers both, and gender is only shown on adjectives or verbs agreeing with it. 2) Don't confuse with दोस्त (dost, 'friend') -- रिश्तेदार (rishtedaar) implies actual family or marital connection, not close friendship, even though Indian families sometimes call very close family friends 'रिश्तेदार जैसे' (rishtedaar jaise, 'like relatives').
Sample Sentences:
शादी में सारे रिश्तेदार आए थे। All the relatives had come to the wedding.
(shaadii men saare rishtedaar aae the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हमारे घर में रिश्तेदार अक्सर बिना बताए आ जाते हैं। Relatives often just show up at our house without telling us.
(hamaare ghar men rishtedaar aksar binaa bataae aa jaate hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह मेरी माँ की तरफ से रिश्तेदार है। He's a relative from my mother's side.
(vah merii maan kii taraph se rishtedaar hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अभी भी कई रिश्तेदार खाना खा रहे हैं। Several relatives are still eating.
(abhii bhii kaii rishtedaar khaanaa khaa rahe hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर सब रिश्तेदार साथ बैठें तो पूरा घर छोटा पड़ जाए। If all the relatives sat together, the whole house would feel too small.
(agar sab rishtedaar saath baithen to pooraa ghar chhotaa pad jaae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
अगर वह मेरा रिश्तेदार होता तो मैं इतना नहीं सोचता। If he were my relative, I wouldn't think about it so much.
(agar vah meraa rishtedaar hotaa to main itnaa nahiin sochtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
त्योहारों पर रिश्तेदारों को बुलाना हमारी परंपरा है। Inviting relatives over on festivals is our tradition.
(tyohaaron par rishtedaaron ko bulaanaa hamaarii parampraa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सब रिश्तेदारों को न्योता भेज दिया गया है। Invitations have been sent to all the relatives.
(sab rishtedaaron ko nyotaa bhej diyaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
रिश्तेदारों की बातों में मत आना। Don't get caught up in what the relatives say.
(rishtedaaron kii baaton men mat aanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मुझे नहीं पता था कि इतने रिश्तेदार शादी में आएंगे। I didn't know that so many relatives would come to the wedding.
(mujhe nahiin pataa thaa ki itne rishtedaar shaadii men aaenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कुछ रिश्तेदार सिर्फ शादी-ब्याह में ही दिखते हैं। Some relatives only show up for weddings and such occasions.
(kuchh rishtedaar sirph shaadii-byaah men hii dikhte hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct): रिश्तेदार (rishtedaar)
(sg.m/f.oblique): रिश्तेदार (rishtedaar)
(pl.m/f.direct): रिश्तेदारें (rishtedaaren)
(pl.m/f.oblique): रिश्तेदारों (rishtedaaron)