పినతండ్రి పెళ్ళాం పినతల్లి కాదు, మేనమామ పెళ్ళాం మేనత్త కాదు.

pinatandri pellam pinatalli kadu, menamama pellam menatta kadu.

Translation

Father's younger brother's wife is not a 'Pinatalli', and maternal uncle's wife is not a 'Menatta'.

Meaning

This proverb is used to highlight that biological relationships and marital relationships carry different emotional weights or social expectations. It suggests that someone who enters the family through marriage might not always share the same innate affection or bond as a blood relative, or it is used to specifically define traditional kinship roles in Telugu culture where specific terms are reserved for biological relations.

Related Phrases

Like giving only half and calling oneself a paternal aunt.

This proverb describes someone who does a half-hearted or incomplete favor but demands the full respect or status associated with a close relative or a great benefactor. It is used to mock people who are stingy or perform duties poorly yet expect high praise and recognition for their supposed 'generosity'.

Resemblance of the paternal aunt, a fragment of the maternal uncle.

This proverb is used to describe hereditary traits in children. It suggests that a child's physical appearance or temperament often mirrors their paternal aunt (menatta) or maternal uncle (menamama). It is frequently used by family members when noticing similarities between a newborn or child and their close relatives on both parental sides.

When the mother dies, the father is equal to an uncle. He is not so affectionate as before.

This proverb suggests that after a mother's passing, the father's attention and affection might diminish or shift, especially if he remarries, making him distant like a secondary relative rather than a primary nurturer. It highlights the unique, irreplaceable role of a mother in a child's upbringing.

One missed being born to the maternal aunt, the other missed being born to the mother.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally wicked, cunning, or troublesome. It implies that there is no difference in their bad character; if one is bad, the other is slightly worse or just as bad. It is similar to saying 'two of a kind' or 'chips off the same block' in a negative context.

Doesn't the maternal uncle know his own mother's birth home?

This proverb is used when someone tries to explain or describe something to a person who already knows it inside out. It highlights the irony of telling someone about their own roots, expertise, or a situation they are intimately familiar with.

The maternal uncle comes after the mother.

This expression highlights the significance and priority given to the maternal uncle (mother's brother) in a child's life and within the family hierarchy. After the mother, the maternal uncle is traditionally considered the most important guardian and support system in many Telugu households, especially regarding cultural rituals and protection.

Your paternal uncle's wife is not your maternal aunt; your maternal uncle's wife is not your paternal aunt.

This proverb highlights the nuances of relationships and blood ties. It suggests that while people may hold certain titles or positions through marriage, they do not necessarily inherit the same biological significance or emotional depth as the original relative. It is often used to caution against expecting the same level of care or loyalty from relatives by marriage as one would from blood relatives.

Like praising a mother's maternal home in front of the maternal uncle.

This expression describes a situation where someone tells a person something they already know very well, or tries to 'enlighten' someone on a topic they are an expert in. Since the uncle grew up in that very house, praising it to him is redundant and unnecessary.

Will you boast of your mother's family before your maternal uncle?

This proverb refers to a redundant or unnecessary action. Since the maternal uncle (mother's brother) grew up in that same house, he knows its merits better than anyone else. It is used when someone tries to explain or brag about something to a person who is already an expert or possesses intimate knowledge of the subject.

When she comes to you out of love, saying a maternal uncle's daughter is not a proper relation.

This proverb is used to describe a person who makes excuses to reject something valuable or appropriate simply because it is being offered easily or voluntarily. In Telugu culture, marrying a maternal uncle's daughter is traditionally considered a preferred and valid relationship (menarikam). The saying mocks the hypocrisy of someone who ignores established norms or desires just to be difficult when someone shows genuine affection or initiative.