Biwi

Biwi is a common Hindustani word meaning wife. It is used in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and other South Asian varieties of speech to refer to a married woman, typically in informal or colloquial context. In Romanized writing it is usually pronounced roughly as bee-wee.

Etymology and usage notes: The term is part of the Urdu-Hindustani vocabulary that has been shaped by centuries of Persianate linguistic influence, but it remains a staple in everyday speech across many communities. In more formal contexts, the Sanskrit-derived term patni is often preferred, while biwi carries a familiar, intimate, or colloquial nuance. The form biwi ji is sometimes used as a respectful address.

Cultural context: Biwi appears widely in literature, film, music, and conversation, where it is often used to describe the wife of a character or to speak affectionately about one’s own spouse. Its usage can convey warmth or humor, depending on tone and setting, and it is frequently encountered in dialogues and lyrics across South Asian media.

Related terms and variants: Patni is the formal counterpart in Hindi, while biwi is more colloquial. In some contexts, regional terms for wife may vary, but biwi remains a widely recognized and understood word across Hindi-Urdu speaking audiences.

See also: Patni, Zawja (Arabic loanword used in some contexts), terms for spouse in related South Asian languages.