How To Say “Grandma” In Different Languages

Grandmothers — aren't they just the best? One: they know how to bake a batch of really good chocolate chip cookies. Two: they also know how to make a very mean apple pie. Three: they even know how to keep your secrets safe.

Nothing can beat the feeling of a grandmother's favoritism, as this affection is as constant as the northern star.

What you call your grandmother might be different from what I call mine, and that’s okay. We all have special names for our grandmas. Language and culture play a huge part in these nicknames.

Before any more hullabaloo, are you curious to know what the rest of the world calls their grandmother?

• English: grandma, grandmum, grandmother, gran, nan, nana
• French: grand-mère, grand-maman, mamie, mémé
• German: Großmutter, Oma, Omi, Ömchen
• Korean: 할머니 (halmeoni), 할매 (halmae)
• Japanese: ばあさん (baasan), おばあさん (obaasan), 祖母 (sobo)
• Dutch: oma
• Italian: nonna, nonnina
• Russian: бабушка (babushka), Бабуся (babusya)
• Spanish: abuela, abuelita, abu, yaya
• Polish: babcia, babunia
• Greek: γιαγιά (yaya), γιαγιάκα (yayaka)
• Tagalog: lola, nanay
• Vietnamese: bà
• Swedish: mormor (maternal), farmor (paternal)
• Portuguese: avó, vovó, vovozinha
• Chinese: 奶奶 (nǎinai - paternal), 外婆 (wàipó - maternal)
• Swahili: nyanya, bibi
• Hindi: दादी (daadee - paternal), नानी (naanee - maternal)
• Danish: bedstemor, mormor, farmor
• Irish: maimeó