What is Your Word for Grandmother?
In honor of my grandmother, who passed away from Covid-19 last week at the amazing age of 100, I wanted to share some of the words for grandmother in various languages from around the world. Some will be familiar and some strange. Some are quite formal, and some sound as sweet and warm as a nicely baked cookie.
Origins of the Word Grandmother in English
In Old English, the word was ealdemodor, which sounds a lot like “old mother,” and likely has roots in Old Norse. It was replaced by grandame, literally meaning “old lady,” due to the French influence over English.
The French word for grandmother is grandmère but often the nickname mémé is used. In English, the most common nicknames for grandmother are grandma, gramma, gran, nan, and nana.
In the Celtic languages, for example, Gaelic, it’s maiméo. In the Manx language, your grandparents are your shennayryn, and your grandmother is your grannee, or mwarree, or your shenn voir. In the south of Wales, you would use mam-gu, but in northern Wales, you’d use nain.
Scandinavian Words for Grandmother
In the Norse languages, the word for grandmother changes depending on whether the person is your maternal or paternal grandmother. In Swedish, mormor means, “mother’s mother,” and farmor means, “father’s mother.”
It’s the same in Danish, but they have another word for just “grandmother,” which is bedstemor. Norwegian also uses mormor and farmor, though sometimes bestemor, and sometimes forelder or forelderen for just “grandparent,” or besteforeldere for “grandparents.” In Icelandic, the word is simply amma, and often the person’s first name is added to the end.
In Finnish, the word is isoäiti, a combination of the words iso meaning “great” or “big” and âiti, meaning “mother.” Also used are isänäiti for father’s mother and äidinäiti for mother’s mother.
Grandmother in Hindi
There are many words for grandmother in the numerous dialects of Hindi, but in most of them, your nani is your mother’s mother, and your dadi is your father’s mother. Sometimes the word ma is added, so nani ma and dadi ma.
Words for Grandmother in the Romance Languages
Strangely enough, the romance languages all have different words for grandmother that hardly resemble each other. As previously mentioned, in French the word is grandmère, but in Italian, it’s nonna. In Spanish, the term is abuela, or if you want to be cozy and cute about it, you’d call her your abuelita, which means “little grandma.” In Portuguese, the word is avó. These last two most resemble the Latin word for grandmother, via.
In Romanian, the word is bună, or bunică, a combination of the word bun, meaning “good” and a Latin word-forming suffix that implies a belonging to or connection with whatever word you’re trying to emphasize. So the Romanian word for grandmother literally translates to “belonging to good.”
In the Slavic languages, the word is some variation of baba, babushka, or babcia. In the Basque region, they call their grandmothers, amona. In German, the formal word is großmutter, and the familiar word is oma.
How to Say Grandmother in Hebrew and Yiddish
In Hebrew, the familiar word for grandma is savta or safta, and in Yiddish it’s באָבע pronounced, “bubbe.” In Greek, the word is γιαγιά, which is pronounced yaya.
In Arabic, the word grandma is جدتي pronounced jadati, though the many dialects of Arabic have different words. In the Zulu language, grandmothers are called gogo, or ugogo. In Swahili it’s bibi, in Sudanese, nini, and in Somali, ayeeyo. In the Igbo language of Nigeria, the word is nne nne.
In the Maori language, the word is kuia. In Samoan, tinamatua, from tina meaning “mother,” and matua meaning “grand.” In Hawaiian, it’s kupunawahine, a combination of the words kupuna, meaning “grand,” and wahine, meaning “woman.”
In Filipino the word is lola and in Thai the word is ยาย which is pronounced “yeeai.” In Dyirbal, the Aboriginal language of Australia, your gumbu is your mother’s mother, and your babi is your father’s mother.
Grandmother in Japanese, Chinese and Korean
In Japanese, the general word for grandmother is おばあちゃん, which is pronounced obaasan, but sometimes people call their own grandmother 祖母 which is pronounced, sobo. In Mandarin Chinese there are different words for maternal vs paternal grandparents. Your 奶奶 (pronounced nai nai) is your father’s grandmother, and your 姥姥 (pronounced lao lao), is your mother’s mother.
In Cantonese, those would be 嫲嫲 (pronounced maa maa) and 婆婆 (pronounced po po.) In Korean, the word is 할머니 (pronounced halmeoni.) In Thai, ยาย (pronounced yeeai.)
Treasure Your Elders
Whatever you call your grandmother, I hope you call her soon, if you can, to tell her that she is wonderful and that you love her dearly. We must do everything we can to treat our elders with dignity and respect. We should protect and honor them and treasure the time we get with these living pieces of history. I was lucky enough to get 41 years with my amazing grandmother, and for that, I am very grateful.
What is your word for grandmother? I called mine grandma. Do you have different names for your various grandmothers? Share them in the comments below.
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Grandmothers are some of the most influential members of a family tree, whether you call your grandmother “grandma,” “mimi,” or “grammy.” Have you ever wondered what certain cultures call their most beloved family members?
Let’s take a quick trip! Here are a few of the most popular ways to say “grandma” in different languages around the globe.
1. “Nonna” from Italian
“Nonna” is the popular name for grandmother in the Italian language. “Nonna” may be altered to “Nonnina,” which translates to “little grandmother.” Some people choose to shorten the name to “Nonni,” which is also the plural form of “grandparents.”
2. “Obaasan” from Japanese
“Obaasan” is the given name for “grandmother” in Japanese. The Japanese language uses a different alphabet system so there are slight variations of the spelling. Children often shorten “Obaasan” to “Baasan,” or “Baa-Baa” for easier pronunciation.
3. “Oma” from German
“Oma” in German is the equivalent to “granny” in the English language. It’s a less formal term of endearment. You may also hear it fairly often in other parts of the world because it’s easy for youngsters to pronounce.
4. “Vovo” from Portuguese
One of the most interesting things about the term “vovo” for “grandmother” is that it’s also the same word for “grandfather.” The Portuguese also say “avo” and even simply “vo.”
Some families choose to call one grandparent a slight variation just to make it easier to understand who is being spoken to during a conversation. It may also vary based on personal preferences and formality.
5. “Babcia” from Polish
“Babcia” is the appropriate term in Polish if you’re talking directly to your grandmother. Other terms may also include “babci” and “babciu.”
You’re more likely to use these terms if you’re talking about your grandmother instead of directly to her.
6. “Abuela” from Spanish
Spanish classifies words based on masculine or feminine, which is usually identified as an “a” or “o” at the end of the work. “Abuela” is the feminine word for grandmother, so it ends with an “a.”
7. “Bubbe” from Yiddish
“Bubbe” is the most traditional Yiddish term for grandmother but has lost popularity over the years. Many people use “grandmother” instead.
You can identify the more traditional Yiddish families based on what they call their grandmothers.
8. “Yiayia” from Greek
Greek grandmothers are usually the backbone of their families. These women are known for their fearlessness, cooking skills, and life advice.
They have a reputation for outspokenness and directness, but their families can’t help but love them for it.
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9. “Halmoni” from Korean
“Halmoni” is a term of endearment for grandmothers and other women that may be old enough to be your grandmother.
It’s commonplace for people to respect their elders and this is simply one way to demonstrate that.
10. “Savta” from Hebrew
Hebrew’s translation may be spelled in several different ways. You may see either “Savta” or “Safta” as the written term for grandmother. Both are correct and may vary based on region.
11. “Babushka” from Russian
“Babushka” also refers to a headscarf commonly worn by Russian women. Many people use this term as a way to express their utmost respect for elderly women in their life.
12. “Grand-mère” from French
French grandchildren call their grandmothers “grand-mère,” similar to the English term “grandmother.”
Other, less formal terms may include “la mémé” or “grand-mamam.” The chosen term can vary from family to family.
13. “Nai Nai” from Chinese
One of the most interesting things about the Chinese language is that there are actually different terms for maternal and paternal grandmothers.
Paternal grandmothers are “nai nai” and maternal grandmothers are “lao lao.”
14. “Gjyshe” from Albanian
“Gjyshe” is the Albanian term for grandmother, and in recent years, it has gained in popularity for baby girl names around the world.
It may also be used to honor other female members within the family.
15. “Yiey” from Khmer
“Yiey,” pronounced “yee-ay” and “yay,” hails from Cambodia, where Khmer is the official language.
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16. “Tatik” from Armenian
“Tatik” is the common term for “grandmother” in the Armenian language. Grandparents are held in high regard in the country.
In fact, there is a popular mountain called “tatik-papik,” which translates as “Grandma and Grandpa.”
17. “Ouma” from Afrikaans
“Ouma” is the term of endearment for “grandmother” in South Africa. It may also be spoken as a term of respect for an elderly woman.
18. “Tutu” from Hawaiian
The formal way to say “grandmother” in the Hawaiian language is actually “kuku wahine.”
However, “tutu” is another common way to say both “grandmother” and “grandfather.” It’s especially common for younger children to use this word since it’s easier to pronounce.
19. “Bomma” from Flemish
“Bomma” is the most popular term for grandmother in the Flemish language. People in the area may also use “Oma,” since northern Belgium is so close to Germany.
20. “Lola” from Filipino
“Lola” is a popular name in several countries, but many people aren’t aware that it’s actually the Filipino word for “grandmother.” More than 50% of grandparents provide full-time childcare for their grandchildren.
A Name Said with Love
No matter what you call your grandmother, one thing is for certain — she is a beloved member of your family. Understanding some of the other terms of endearment from other cultures allows us to see just how much grandmothers mean to us.
Post-loss tip: If you are the executor for a matriarch after she passes, the emotional and technical aspects of handling her unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. We have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one’s family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.
Sources
- Adcox, S. (2018, April 12). Italian Grandmother Name Adds Spice. Retrieved from www.liveabout.com/italian-name-for-grandmother-1695378
- Adcox, S. (2018, March 16). Are You My Obaasan? Retrieved from www.liveabout.com/japanese-name-for-grandmother-1695379
Some people call their grandma «Granny» or «Nana» or «Oma.» Grandma is a very common, informal way to say «grandmother.» While the preferences of grandmas vary, many of them enjoy being known as Grandma to their grandchildren.
What are cool grandma names?
Modern Grandma Names
- Abba.
- Birdy.
- Bunny.
- Gaga.
- Gigi.
- Kitty.
- Mimi.
- Minnie.
What are other ways to say grandma?
synonyms for grandma
- ancestor.
- granny.
- matriarch.
- dowager.
- gram.
- maternal forebear.
What is slang for grandma?
Gram. «Gram» and «Grams» are common nicknames for a grandmother. They’re based off the traditional terms, but they’re more casual and laid-back.
What do they call grandma in the South?
Many southerners in seven states, including Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia, opt to call their grandmothers familiar names that you might expect. The most popular southern grandmother names are Mamaw, Mawmaw, Memaw, Nana, and Mimi.
What are other names for grandma and grandpa?
What is Grandma called in Texas?
And if you live in the south, there’s a good chance you call your grandmother Mamaw or Mawmaw—the most popular nickname in 7 states mostly in the south and along the Appalachians. Texas is the lone holdout for Mimi while folks in the Northeast prefer Grammie or Nana.
What do kids call their grandma?
The 10 most common nicknames for grandma in the United States are: Nana. Grammy/Grammie. Granny/Grannie.
What is a hip name for grandma?
50 Grandma Names
- Memaw. This unique name for grandma is popular in the southern United States!
- Nanny. Much like the popular nanny Mary Poppins, this is a perfect name for a grandma who is sensible and sweet.
- Nonna. This quirky name means “grandma” in Italian.
- Bubbe. …
- Abuela. …
- Glamma. …
- Lovey. …
- Lola.
How do you say grandma in Old English?
In Old English, the word was ealdemodor, which sounds a lot like “old mother,” and likely has roots in Old Norse. It was replaced by grandame, literally meaning “old lady,” due to the French influence over English.
What are cute grandparent names?
Unique Grandparent Names
- Lolly and Pop.
- Gpa and Gma.
- Gigi.
- Pop Pop.
- Momo and Papo.
- Bema.
- Mimi.
- Yaya.
What do celebrities call their grandmas?
Celebrity Names for Grandma
- Aba Daba (Debbie Reynolds)
- Glam Ma (Goldie Hawn/Nene Leakes)
- Granny (Whoopi Goldberg)
- Honey (Susan Sarandon)
- Lovey (Kris Jenner)
- Martha (Martha Stewart)
- Nana (Chaka Khan)
- Shazza (Sharon Osbourne)
What is a grandma in Irish?
Ireland: Seanmháthair is Irish for grandmother, but Irish children are much more likely to use Maimeó or Móraí.
What is the most popular grandma name?
Traditional Grandmother Names
- Gammy, Gamma, or Gams.
- Gram or Grams.
- Gramma.
- Grammy or Grammie.
- Grandma or Grandmaw.
- Grandmama.
- Grandmom.
- Grandmother.
How do you pick a grandmother name?
How to Pick Your Grandparent Name
- Pick From What’s Popular. “I’m Gigi. …
- Borrow from Your Grandparents. “’Tis an honor to be called ‘grandma. …
- Go Traditional. …
- Pick a Nickname. …
- Let Your Grandkid Choose. …
- Be Formal. …
- Go Back to Your Roots. …
- Choose Something Silly.
What is a grandma called in England?
For British grandmothers the top five names in order of popularity at a national level are Nan (33%), Grandma (32%), Nana (24%), Nanny (22%) and Granny (14%). Only one-in-ten use the term Gran. The name Nan is by far the most popular for a grandmother in the English seaside cities of Liverpool (65%) and Brighton (51%).
What are grandmas called in Hawaii?
Grandparents and ancestors are referred to with the same word in Hawaiian: kupuna. The words wahine (woman) or kāne (man) are added after it to distinguish between one’s grandmother, kupuna wahine, or grandfather, kupuna kāne. The word tūtū is also used to refer to a grandparent, specifically a grandma.
What do Mexicans call their grandmother?
Abuela – Grandmother
Abuela is the most standard way to say ‘grandmother’ in Spanish. Depending on the context and the sentence, this word can be translated either as grandmother or granma. ‘Abuela’ can be used either to refer to your grandmother or to address her directly. ¡Abuela!
What do Native Americans call grandmothers?
Native American grandmothers hold a near and dear place in our hearts, here are 8 ways my Tota is the best. In Mohawk, it’s Tota, In Diné it’s amá sání or análí asdz???? and in Cherokee it’s Elisi or Enisi. The special word we are referring to is one we all love, Grandmother.
What is a grandmother in Greek?
The most commonly used Greek term for grandmother is yia-yia, sometimes rendered as ya-ya. These may also be spelled as separate words: yia yia and ya ya — or without the hyphen — yiayia and yaya.
What do French call their grandparents?
France. The lyrical language of France is apparent in the way children refer to their grandparents, “grand-mère” is grandma, and “grand-père” is grandpa. “Mamie” has become a popular modern update for grandmother.
What does grandma mean in Germany?
Oma is the informal German name for grandmother or grandma. Grossmutter is the more formal term.
What is grandma in Scotland?
-Scottish: In Scottish Gaelic, the word for grandma is “Seanmhair,” which means good mother. But other commonly used Scottish grandmother names include “Nana,” “Nanna,” “Mhamó” and “Mamó.”
What do Italian call their grandparents?
The most common way to say grandpa or grandfather in Italian is nonno (plural: nonni which can mean either grandpas or grandparents). Your paternal grandfather is your nonno paterno whereas your maternal grandfather is your nonno materno.
What is the Cajun French word for grandmother?
MawMaw. With its French Cajun roots, «MawMaw» is widely used throughout Louisiana. Also consider the similar-sounding «MeeMaw» as a traditional Southern grandma nickname.
Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Bobbie Willms
Score: 4.4/5
(23 votes)
In Britain, Ireland, United States, Australia, New Zealand and, particularly prevalent in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nan, Nana, Nanna, Nanny, Gran and Granny and other variations are often used for grandmother in both writing and speech.
How do you say Grandma in England?
Below is the UK transcription for ‘grandma’:
- Modern IPA: gránmɑː
- Traditional IPA: ˈgrænmɑː
- 2 syllables: «GRAN» + «maa»
What is the Celtic word for grandmother?
Few people know that the Irish or Gaelic word for grandmother is seanmháthair ((shan a WAW her), literally meaning «old mother.» Alternate spellings include seanmhair, seanmathair and sean mathair.
What do you call grandparents in the UK?
Among the nicknames for grandparents in English, two of the most traditional grandparent pairings are “Grandma and Grandpa” (often followed by your first name) and “Nana and Papa.” The names are classy, universally understood and carry a sense of tradition. But maybe you want something more unique and creative.
How do you say Grandma in Old English?
In Old English, the word was ealdemodor, which sounds a lot like “old mother,” and likely has roots in Old Norse. It was replaced by grandame, literally meaning “old lady,” due to the French influence over English. The French word for grandmother is grandmère but often the nickname mémé is used.
45 related questions found
Does Gigi mean grandma?
Another popular subset of unique names are those that are derived from the (most often) grandmother’s first name. So Gabby McCree is Gigi. “It’s an abbreviation for ‘Grandma Gabby’ and also my initials growing up,” she says. (Her husband, Don, went with Pop Pop.)
What are cool grandma names?
50 Grandma Names
- Memaw. This unique name for grandma is popular in the southern United States!
- Nanny. Much like the popular nanny Mary Poppins, this is a perfect name for a grandma who is sensible and sweet.
- Nonna. This quirky name means “grandma” in Italian.
- Bubbe. …
- Abuela. …
- Glamma. …
- Lovey. …
- Lola.
What are popular names for grandparents?
The Most Popular Nicknames for Grandparents in Every State
- Nana.
- Grammy/Grammie.
- Granny/Grannie.
- Nanny.
- Mamaw.
- Mawmaw.
- Mimi.
- Grandmother.
What are the most popular names for grandparents?
While Nana took the top spot, Grammy, Granny, Nanny, Mamaw, Mawmaw, Mimi, Grandmother, Memaw, and Abuela/Abuelita rounded out the top ten list. Now, onto Grandpa!
What do Southerners call their grandparents?
Let’s start with Southern grandparent names. The most common grandmother names seem to be Grandma and Gramma, sometimes with a «w» attached to create Grandmaw and Grammaw. Another popular choice is Mawmaw or Meemaw, sometimes spelled MawMaw or MeeMaw.
What is the name for grandma in Italian?
Nonna and Nonno — Italian names for grandparents, Nonna and Nonno are great alternatives if you have an Italian family or Italian traditions. Oma and Opa — A less formal German translation for grandparents, Oma and Opa are affectionate alternatives to Grandma and Grandpa.
What do the Irish call grandparents?
Ireland (Gaelic)
While maimeó and daideó are the words used to address a grandmother or grandfather, there are a few different words for grandparents in Irish. For example, there are máthair chríona, which translates to “wise mother,” and athair críonna which translates to “wise father.”
What do they call Grandma in Scotland?
The proper Scottish Gaelic word for Grandmother is “seanmhair,” but this word is very formal and is commonly supplanted by “Nana” or “Nanna” in modern Scottish families. Other Gaelic dialects common in Ireland and Scotland commonly use “Mamó” as an informal name for Grandmother as well.
What does Grandma stand for?
Grandma is an informal word for grandmother—the mother of a person’s parent. When a mother’s child has their own children, that mother becomes a grandma. The word ma is an informal way to say mother.
What do the Kardashians call their grandma?
It is then when Kris revealed that Lovey is actually the name by which her grandchildren call her, apart from Mason who still calls her grandma.
What is an old lady name?
Ada, Agnes, Alice, Amelia, Audra, Audrey, Ava, Beatrice, Bessie, Blanche, Cicely, Cora, Cordelia, Dinah, Dora, Dorothea, Dorothy, Harriet, Edith, Elise, Elsie, Elspeth, Emily, Emmeline, Esme, Eva, Evelyn, Evie, Flora, Florence, Greta, Gretchen, Harriet, Hattie, Irene, Iris, Ivy, Lena, Lilith, Lillian, Mabel, Maisie, …
What are you called instead of Grandma?
Traditional Grandmother Names
- Gammy or Gamma or Gams.
- Gram or Grams.
- Gramma.
- Grammy or Grammie.
- Grandma or Grandmaw.
- Grandmama.
- Grandmom.
- Grandmother.
What is Mimi short for?
Mimi is a feminine given name and a shorter form (hypocorism) of the given names Miriam, Emilia or Naomi.
What is the best grandma name?
Our grandparent wants to feel close to the family as much as possible and calling her cute names like Mimi, Yia Yia, Tutu, or even a southern style of ‘Gigi’ as a nickname for grandma indeed makes a grandmother feel the most loved member of the family. Other names for grandma are Grammy, Cici, Mia, Nan, Amm.
What nationality is Gigi for grandma?
1. Baba & Gigi. The Ukrainian names for grandparents come naturally to most babbling babies.
What is Gigi short for in French?
Originally used as a nickname for Georgette, Gigi is a French name. Endearing yet sassy, she’s moved to stand on her own as a name and is picking up steam with parents. We love her fashionable sound and can see her on a trendsetter of a little girl.
Does Mimi mean Grandma?
According to Babycenter.com, the following are the most popular grandparent names. For grandma, we have Nana, Grammy, Granny, Mimi, Gram, Nanny, Oma, Mamaw and Gran. For grandpa, there’s Papa, Granddad, Gramps, Pop-Pop, Poppy, Papaw, Pop, Opa and Pappy. … Grandfather, Grandmother.
What does Gigi mean in French?
gi-gi. Origin:French. Popularity:4368. Meaning:earth worker or God is gracious.