बहनोई (bahnoii)

noun A single-sense kinship term meaning 'sister's husband' (brother-in-law). Related to बहन (bahan, 'sister').
Sense 1 : sister's husband
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Hindi kinship terms are famously precise compared to English's catch-all 'brother-in-law,' and बहनोई (bahnoii) is a good example: it names one specific relationship rather than a category. In everyday family life, especially in North Indian households, a बहनोई (bahnoii) is often treated with a mix of respect and easy familiarity, similar to how जीजा (jiijaa) is used more casually within the family circle for the same person.
Common Mistakes: 1) English 'brother-in-law' is ambiguous (could be wife's brother, husband's brother, or sister's husband), but Hindi keeps these distinct: बहनोई (bahnoii) is specifically the sister's husband, साला (saalaa) is wife's brother, and जीजा (jiijaa) is a common alternate/affectionate term also used for the sister's husband -- learners should not use बहनोई (bahnoii) loosely for any male in-law. 2) Do not confuse with भाभी (bhaabhii, brother's wife), which is a completely different relation despite the superficial parallel structure.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे बहनोई दिल्ली में रहते हैं। My brother-in-law lives in Delhi.
(mere bahnoii dillii men rahte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल मेरे बहनोई घर आए थे। My brother-in-law came home yesterday.
(kal mere bahnoii ghar aae the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
मेरी बहन ने अपने बहनोई से मिलवाया। My sister introduced me to her husband.
(merii bahan ne apne bahnoii se milvaayaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बहनोई साहब, आप कैसे हैं? Brother-in-law, how are you?
(bahnoii saahab, aap kaise hain?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर मेरे बहनोई शहर में होते, तो हम रोज़ मिलते। If my brother-in-law were in the city, we would meet every day.
(agar mere bahnoii shahar men hote, to ham roz milte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
शादी में सारे बहनोई इकट्ठा हो गए थे। All the brothers-in-law had gathered together at the wedding.
(shaadii men saare bahnoii ikatthaa ho gae the।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बहनोई से हमेशा थोड़ा शिष्टाचार बना रहता है। There is always a bit of formality maintained with a brother-in-law.
(bahnoii se hameshaa thodaa shishtaachaar banaa rahtaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हारे बहनोई भी पार्टी में आएँगे? Will your brother-in-law also come to the party?
(kyaa tumhaare bahnoii bhii paartii men aaenge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
बहनोई का सम्मान करना हर घर की परंपरा होती है। Respecting one's brother-in-law is a tradition in every household.
(bahnoii kaa sammaan karnaa har ghar kii parampraa hotii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बहनोई ने पूछा कि हम कब मिलने आएँगे। My brother-in-law asked when we would come to visit.
(bahnoii ne poochhaa ki ham kab milne aaenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): बहनोई (bahnoii)
(sg.m.oblique): बहनोई (bahnoii)
(pl.m.direct): बहनोई (bahnoii)
(pl.m.oblique): बहनोईों ([[बहनोईों]])