Grandmothers hold a unique position in families everywhere. They are the keepers of tradition, the storytellers, and often the heart of the family. Wherever you may be in the world, the love for grandmothers is universal across languages and cultures. But did you ever wonder how “grandmother” is said in other cultures? Take a look at how “grandmother” is said in various languages around the world.
European Languages
- English: Grandmother (informally Grandma, Granny, Nana, or Nanny)
- Spanish: Abuela
- French: Grand-mère (but “Mamie” is the most common informal term)
- German: Großmutter (more widely used Oma)
- Italian: Nonna
- Portuguese: Avó
- Dutch: Grootmoeder (more widely used Oma)
- Greek: Γιαγιά (Yaya)
- Russian: Бабушка (Babushka)
- Polish: Babcia
- Swedish: Mormor (maternal grandmother) / Farmor (paternal grandmother)
Asian Languages
- Chinese (Mandarin): 祖母 (Zǔmǔ) or 奶奶 (Nǎinai, paternal) / 外婆 (Wàipó, maternal)
- Japanese: おばあさん (Obāsan)
- Korean: 할머니 (Halmeoni)
- Hindi: दादी (Dadi, paternal) / नानी (Nani, maternal)
- Thai: ย่า (Yâa, paternal) / ยาย (Yāi, maternal)
- Vietnamese: Bà ngoại (maternal) / Bà nội (paternal)
African Languages
- Swahili: Bibi or Nyanya
- Zulu: Ugogo
- Afrikaans: Ouma
- Yoruba: Iya Agba
- Hausa: Kaká
Middle Eastern Languages
- Arabic: جدة (Jaddah)
- Hebrew: סבתא (Savta)
- Turkish: Büyükanne (general term). Commonly, Anneanne (maternal) / Babaanne (paternal)
- Persian (Farsi): مادربزرگ (Mādar Bozorg)
Indigenous and Other Languages
- Hawaiian: Tūtū or Kūpuna wahine
- Maori: Kuia or Tipuna wahine
- Cherokee: Elisi
- Inuit: Anânsiak
The Significance of Grandmothers
From culture to culture, grandmothers raise children, pass on traditions, and keep families intact. Whatever her name may be, the love and wisdom of a grandmother are simply universal.
Learning about other cultures’ ways of naming their grandmothers not only makes us more aware of the richness of language but also broadens our understanding of the diverse cultural traditions across the globe.
What do you call your grandmother? Let us know in the comments below!
