Grandma: The Name Half the Family Argues About
Grandma is an informal word for a grandmother. English has more names for this one relative than for almost anyone else.
Grandma is the everyday, affectionate form of *grandmother*. No other relative collects so many names: nan, nana, granny, gran, grandmama, and in families with two of them, whatever tells them apart — Grandma Jean, Nanny Upstairs, Grandma by the Sea.
- An informal word for grandmother. *Grandma is coming on Sunday.*
- Used as a name. *Ask Grandma.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | grandma | My grandma. |
| Plural | grandmas | Both grandmas. |
| Formal | grandmother | His maternal grandmother. |
| British | nan / nana | Round at Nan's. |
| Scots / Irish | granny | Granny's house. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Grandma made the cake herself.Capitalised when used as a name.
- My grandma lives in Cardiff.Lower case after a possessive.
- Both my grandmas were teachers.Plural is regular.
Grandparent words around the world
- Nonna / nonno — Italian
- Abuela / abuelo — Spanish
- Oma / opa — Dutch and German
- Babcia — Polish
- Yaya — Greek, and widely borrowed
*Grand-* in family words comes from French *grand-mère*, meaning one generation further up rather than large. *Ma* is the nursery form found in nearly every language, because it is one of the first sounds infants make.
Should Grandma be capitalised?
Yes when it replaces a name: I asked Grandma. No after a possessive: I asked my grandma.
What does *great-grandmother* mean?
Your grandmother's mother. Each *great* adds one more generation.