ਸਹੁਰਾ

Sauhra (ਸਹੁਰਾ) is the Punjabi word for father-in-law, the father of your husband or wife. He is the senior man of the spouse's family, paired with the saas, the mother-in-law. Together they head the sauhre side, the family a person gains through marriage in Punjab.

What does sauhra mean in Punjabi?

Sauhra means father-in-law. Punjabi relations lists give the word as the exact match for father-in-law, in the same in-law group as saas for mother-in-law, nooh for daughter-in-law and jawai for son-in-law. In Roman letters it also appears as sahura or sahora, and relations lists note the same word in the form sasur. One short Punjabi word does the work of the whole English phrase.

The word is used for the spouse's father on both sides. A bride calls her husband's father her sauhra, and a groom calls his wife's father his sauhra. Face to face, many people address him respectfully as Bau ji or Bapu ji, and use sauhra when speaking about him to others, in the same way saas works for his wife.

Who is a sauhra in a Punjabi family?

A sauhra is a relation by marriage, not by blood, and he is treated with the respect given to a father. In a traditional joint family his word carried weight in big decisions, and a new bride or groom took care to greet him properly and seek his blessing. The in-laws' home itself is called the sauhra ghar, and a married person often speaks of going to the sauhre, meaning the spouse's family home.

What is the difference between sauhra and bapu?

Bapu is your own father, while sauhra is your father by marriage, the father of your husband or wife. The two can overlap in address, because a son-in-law or daughter-in-law may call the sauhra Bapu ji to give him a father's respect. In a family list the words stay separate: one names a parent, the other a parent gained through marriage.

What does sauhre mean in Punjabi?

Sauhre is the collective form used for the in-laws and their home. When someone says they are going to their sauhre, they mean the house of the saas and sauhra. The sauhra stands at the head of that house, which is why his name gives the whole side of the family its everyday label.