Family relations

Hello everyone,
The blog returns with an entry on family relations.  Those of you who have been on the island for some time must have noticed how important it is for every Cypriot to explain to you exactly who everyone is in their ever-expanding family.  Indeed, Cypriots are not only eager to speak about their children, but also thrive speaking about the family of their children’s in laws (Sympetheroi).  Whenever I say the word “sympetheros” I think of my friend Alexander, a Scottish septagenarian who speaks around 9 words of Greek, but has 900 Cypriot friends.  Well, my infamous friend knows not only everything about his ‘sympetheros’ but also about their families, something that makes up for his lack of knowledge of Greek.  So, since family is important to Cypriots, we might as well try to learn some basic vocabulary pertaining to the family relations. 


Standard Greek
Greek-Cypriot Dialect
Meaning in English

Μητέρα/μαμά
Μητέρα/μαμά
Mother/mom

Πατέρας/παπάς
Πατέρας/παπάς
Father/dad

Αδελφός
Αδελφός
Brother

Αδελφή
Αδελφή
Sister

Γιαγιά
Γιαγιά
Grandmother

Παππούς
Παππούς
Grandfather

Κόρη
Κόρη
Daughter

Γιος
Γιος
Son

Εγγονή
Εγγονή
Granddaughter

Εγγονός
Εγγονός
Grandson

Άντρας
Άντρας
Husband

Γυναίκα
Γυναίκα
Wife

ξάδελφος
ανιψιός
Cousin (boy)

ξαδέλφη
ανιψιά
Cousin (girl)

θείος
θείος
Uncle

θεία
θεία
Aunt

ανιψιά
αδελφότεκνη
Niece

ανιψιός
αδελφότεκνος
Nephew

νονός
τατάς
Godfather

νονά
νούνα
Godmother

βαφτιστικιά
βαφτιστιτζιά
Goddaughter

βαφτιστικός
βαφτιστικός
Godson

νύφη
νύφη
Daughter in law, Sister in law

γαμπρός
γαμπρός
Son in law, Brother in law

πεθερός
πεθερός
Father in law

πεθερά
πεθερά
Mother in law

συμπεθερικά
συμπεθερικά
Family of the in laws