Quick answer: In Telugu, your mother's brother is మామయ్య (maamayya), father's elder brother is పెదనాన్న (pedananna), father's younger brother is చిన్నాన్న/బాబాయ్ (chinnanna/baabai), elder brother's wife is వదిన (vadina), and mother-in-law is అత్తగారు (attagaaru). The full chart below covers every close relative with romanization.
Every close Telugu relative in one quick-reference table — the Telugu word and its romanization,
organized by side of the family. For the full explanations and the cross-cousin logic behind the
terms, see the complete guide.
Parents and grandparents
Relationship
Telugu
Romanization
Father
నాన్న
nanna
Mother
అమ్మ
amma
Father's father
తాతయ్య
thaathayya
Father's mother
నానమ్మ
naanamma
Mother's father
తాతయ్య
thaathayya
Mother's mother
అమ్మమ్మ
ammamma
Father's side
Relationship
Telugu
Romanization
Father's elder brother
పెదనాన్న
pedananna
His wife
పెద్దమ్మ
peddamma
Father's younger brother
చిన్నాన్న / బాబాయ్
chinnanna / baabai
His wife
పిన్ని
pinni
Father's sister
అత్త / అత్తయ్య
atta / attayya
Her husband
మామయ్య
maamayya
Mother's side
Relationship
Telugu
Romanization
Mother's brother
మామయ్య
maamayya
His wife
అత్త / అత్తయ్య
atta / attayya
Mother's elder sister
పెద్దమ్మ
peddamma
Mother's younger sister
పిన్ని
pinni
Siblings and their spouses
Relationship
Telugu
Romanization
Elder brother
అన్నయ్య
annayya
Younger brother
తమ్ముడు
thammudu
Elder sister
అక్క
akka
Younger sister
చెల్లి / చెల్లెలు
chelli / chellelu
Elder brother's wife
వదిన
vadina
Elder sister's husband
బావ
baava
Spouse, children, and grandchildren
Relationship
Telugu
Romanization
Husband
భర్త
bhartha
Wife
భార్య
bhaarya
Son
కొడుకు
koduku
Daughter
కూతురు
kuthuru
Grandson
మనవడు
manavadu
Granddaughter
మనవరాలు
manavaraalu
In-laws
Relationship
Telugu
Romanization
Father-in-law
మామగారు
maamagaaru
Mother-in-law
అత్తగారు
attagaaru
Son-in-law
అల్లుడు
alludu
Daughter-in-law
కోడలు
kodalu
Usage varies by region, community, and family — these are the most widely used forms. Spellings of romanizations are approximate. Chart compiled July 2026.
Never mix up మామయ్య and బాబాయ్ again
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Your mother's brother is మామయ్య (maamayya). Notably, your father's sister's husband is also మామయ్య — the two 'line up' in the South Indian cross-relative system.
Why does Telugu have different words for father's elder and younger brothers?
Telugu marks seniority: the father's elder brother is పెదనాన్న ('big father') and the younger is చిన్నాన్న or బాబాయ్ ('small father'). They're treated almost as additional fathers, so their titles derive from the word for father.