चचेरा भाई (chacheraa bhaaii)
noun
This is a kinship compound meaning 'paternal cousin' (specifically, father's brother's son) -- a single-sense noun phrase covered here as one unit.
Sense
1
:
cousin (father's brother's son)
noun, masculine चचेरा (chacheraa) is the adjective 'paternal-uncle's' derived from चाचा (chaachaa, father's younger brother), and भाई (bhaaii) means 'brother' -- together they specify the exact family relation rather than using the loanword 'cousin.'
Synonyms: कज़िन (kazin, English loanword, informal), भाई (bhaaii, meaning scope: generic 'brother,' often used loosely for cousins in casual speech)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Indian families traditionally distinguish cousins by exactly which relative they descend from -- चचेरा (chacheraa) for father's brother's kids, ममेरा (mameraa) for mother's brother's kids, मौसेरा (mauseraa) for mother's sister's kids, and फुफेरा (phupheraa) for father's sister's kids. This reflects how central the joint-family structure is: a चचेरा भाई (chacheraa bhaaii) growing up in the same house as blood siblings is extremely common, so the language gives each branch its own label rather than lumping them all under one word like English 'cousin.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often just say भाई (bhaaii) for 'cousin,' which Hindi speakers understand from context but which erases the specific relation; चचेरा भाई (chacheraa bhaaii) is used when precision matters, such as introducing someone. 2) The feminine counterpart is not formed by simply changing भाई (bhaaii) to बहन (bahan) casually in speech -- चचेरी बहन (chacherii bahan) is the correct paired form, and the adjective itself changes ending (चचेरा (chacheraa) to चचेरी (chacherii)) to agree with the noun's gender. 3) Do not confuse this with मामा का बेटा (maamaa kaa betaa) or मौसी का बेटा (mausii kaa betaa) -- Hindi has distinct terms depending on which uncle/aunt (paternal vs. maternal, father's side vs. mother's side) the cousin descends from; चचेरा specifically marks the father's brother's line.
Sample Sentences:
मेरा चचेरा भाई दिल्ली में रहता है।
My cousin (father's brother's son) lives in Delhi.
(meraa chacheraa bhaaii dillii men rahtaa hai।)
बचपन में मेरा चचेरा भाई हमारे ही घर में रहता था।
As a child, my cousin used to live in our very house.
(bachpan men meraa chacheraa bhaaii hamaare hii ghar men rahtaa thaa।)
मेरा चचेरा भाई अभी बाहर खेल रहा है।
My cousin is playing outside right now.
(meraa chacheraa bhaaii abhii baahar khel rahaa hai।)
मेरा चचेरा भाई कल शादी में आया था।
My cousin had come to the wedding yesterday.
(meraa chacheraa bhaaii kal shaadii men aayaa thaa।)
मेरा चचेरा भाई अगले महीने अमेरिका जाएगा।
My cousin will go to America next month.
(meraa chacheraa bhaaii agle mahiine amerikaa jaaegaa।)
अरे, अपने चचेरे भाई से मिलवा तो दे!
Hey, introduce me to your cousin already!
(are, apne chachere bhaaii se milvaa to de!)
काश मेरा चचेरा भाई भी इस शहर में होता।
I wish my cousin also lived in this city.
(kaash meraa chacheraa bhaaii bhii is shahar men hotaa।)
हो सकता है मेरा चचेरा भाई भी पार्टी में आए।
It's possible that my cousin might also come to the party.
(ho saktaa hai meraa chacheraa bhaaii bhii paartii men aae।)
मेरे चचेरे भाई को सबसे बड़े ताऊ जी का बेटा होने के कारण खास इज़्ज़त मिलती है।
My cousin gets special respect because he is the eldest uncle's son.
(mere chachere bhaaii ko sabse bade taaoo jii kaa betaa hone ke kaaran khaas izzat miltii hai।)
शादी में मेरे चचेरे भाई द्वारा गाया गया गीत सबको पसंद आया।
The song sung by my cousin at the wedding was liked by everyone.
(shaadii men mere chachere bhaaii dvaaraa gaayaa gayaa giit sabko pasand aayaa।)
मेरा चचेरा भाई और मैं एक ही स्कूल में पढ़ते थे।
My cousin and I used to study in the same school.
(meraa chacheraa bhaaii aur main ek hii skool men padhte the।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
चचेरा भाई
(chacheraa bhaaii)
(sg.m.oblique):
चचेरा भाई
(chacheraa bhaaii)
(pl.m.direct):
चचेरा भाई
(chacheraa bhaaii)
(pl.m.oblique):
चचेरा भाईों
(chacheraa [[भाईों]])