फूफी (phoophii)

noun A kinship term meaning father's sister (paternal aunt); the wife of फूफा (phoophaa).
Sense 1 : father's sister (paternal aunt)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: बुआ (buaa, more common in casual speech)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: In most North Indian families you will hear बुआ (buaa) far more often in daily conversation -- it is the same relation, just the more affectionate, everyday choice, while फूफी (phoophii) can sound a touch more formal or regionally flavored depending on the family. Either way, this aunt often holds a special place: in many families, especially at weddings, the फूफी (phoophii) or बुआ (buaa) has specific ritual roles, like tying the सेहरा (sehraa) or playfully teasing the groom's side.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often mix up फूफी (phoophii) with मामी (maamii, mother's brother's wife) or चाची (chaachii, father's younger brother's wife) -- Hindi kinship terms are precise about which side of the family and which relation, unlike English 'aunt' which covers all of them. 2) फूफी (phoophii) is specifically father's sister, not to be confused with her husband फूफा (phoophaa), father's sister's husband.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी फूफी दिल्ली में रहती हैं। My paternal aunt lives in Delhi.
(merii phoophii dillii men rahtii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
फूफी कल शाम को हमारे घर आई थीं। My paternal aunt came to our house yesterday evening.
(phoophii kal shaam ko hamaare ghar aaii thiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
शादी में फूफी ने दूल्हे को सेहरा बाँधा। At the wedding, the paternal aunt tied the groom's sehra.
(shaadii men phoophii ne doolhe ko sehraa baandhaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
फूफी हर साल छुट्टियों में हमारे यहाँ आती हैं। My paternal aunt comes to our place every year during the holidays.
(phoophii har saal chhuttiyon men hamaare yahaan aatii hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर फूफी आतीं, तो घर में रौनक हो जाती। If my paternal aunt had come, the house would have felt so much livelier.
(agar phoophii aatiin, to ghar men raunak ho jaatii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
फूफी, कृपया आप भी हमारे साथ भोजन कीजिए। Aunt, please have your meal with us too.
(phoophii, kripyaa aap bhii hamaare saath bhojan kiijie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि फूफी इस बार शादी में जरूर आएँगी। I hope that my paternal aunt will definitely come to the wedding this time.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki phoophii is baar shaadii men jaroor aaengii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
फूफी अभी रसोई में खाना बना रही हैं। My paternal aunt is cooking in the kitchen right now.
(phoophii abhii rasoii men khaanaa banaa rahii hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिताजी की तीन बहनें हैं, यानी मेरी तीन फूफियाँ हैं। Father has three sisters, that is, I have three paternal aunts.
(pitaajii kii tiin bahnen hain, yaanii merii tiin phoophiyaan hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
फूफी द्वारा भेजा गया उपहार सबको बहुत पसंद आया। The gift sent by my paternal aunt was liked by everyone very much.
(phoophii dvaaraa bhejaa gayaa upahaar sabko bahut pasand aayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): फूफी (phoophii)
(sg.f.oblique): फूफी (phoophii)
(pl.f.direct): फूफियाँ (phoophiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): फूफियों (phoophiyon)