भतीजी (bhatiijii)

noun A kinship noun meaning 'niece' (specifically brother's daughter). Single sense, high everyday relevance in family conversation.
Sense 1 : niece (brother's daughter)
noun, feminine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In the Hindi kinship system, unlike English, every relative has a specific label depending on which side of the family and which sibling they descend from -- a joint-family household will distinguish भतीजी (bhatiijii) from भांजी (bhaanjii, sister's daughter) without a second thought, since these are different people to be addressed and treated differently in family hierarchy. It's a small but telling window into how central lineage and side-of-family are in North Indian family life.
Common Mistakes: 1) Hindi kinship terms are precise about lineage: भतीजी (bhatiijii) is specifically the daughter of one's brother, while the daughter of one's sister is भांजी (bhaanjii) -- English 'niece' collapses both, so learners often mix these up. 2) The masculine counterpart is भतीजा (bhatiijaa, 'nephew, brother's son') -- don't confuse the two by gender when the referent is female.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी भतीजी दिल्ली में पढ़ती है। My niece studies in Delhi.
(merii bhatiijii dillii men padhtii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल मेरी भतीजी घर आई थी। My niece came home yesterday.
(kal merii bhatiijii ghar aaii thii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
भतीजी अगले महीने ससुराल जाएगी। My niece will go to her in-laws' place next month.
(bhatiijii agle mahiine sasuraal jaaegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
मेरी भतीजी इस वक्त सो रही है। My niece is sleeping right now.
(merii bhatiijii is vakt so rahii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
भतीजी, मेरे लिए एक गिलास पानी ले आओ। Niece, bring me a glass of water.
(bhatiijii, mere lie ek gilaas paanii le aao।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
काश मेरी भतीजी भी हमारे साथ छुट्टियों पर होती। I wish my niece were also with us on vacation.
(kaash merii bhatiijii bhii hamaare saath chhuttiyon par hotii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
हो सकता है मेरी भतीजी शादी में जरूर आए। It's possible that my niece will definitely come to the wedding.
(ho saktaa hai merii bhatiijii shaadii men jaroor aae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
मेरी भतीजी के लिए यह उपहार खास तौर पर चुना गया था। This gift was specially chosen for my niece.
(merii bhatiijii ke lie yah upahaar khaas taur par chunaa gayaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
परिवार में सब कहते हैं कि मेरी भतीजी बिल्कुल अपने पिता जैसी दिखती है। Everyone in the family says that my niece looks exactly like her father.
(parivaar men sab kahte hain ki merii bhatiijii bilkul apne pitaa jaisii dikhtii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेरे भाई की बेटी, यानी मेरी भतीजी, डॉक्टर बनना चाहती है। My brother's daughter, that is, my niece, wants to become a doctor.
(mere bhaaii kii betii, yaanii merii bhatiijii, doktar bannaa chaahtii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): भतीजी (bhatiijii)
(sg.f.oblique): भतीजी (bhatiijii)
(pl.f.direct): भतीजियाँ (bhatiijiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): भतीजियों (bhatiijiyon)