How to say grandma and grandpa in 20 languages

Sometimes, “Grandma” or “Grandpa” in the language of our heritage can be more meaningful than a trendy name. With grandparents serving as the bridge for children between the old family heritage and new family traditions, a name that reminds a child of where they came from can create a special bond to their ancestral homeland. Check out these 20 ways grandma and grandpa are said in other languages.

Want even more inspiration on your grandparent name? Check out The Big Book of Grandparents’ Names to see over 1,000 names in english, plus additional names in over 200 different languages. You can buy it from Amazon here.

1. Romania

Language: Romanian

Grandma: Bunica (boo-nee-ka)

Grandpa: Bunic (boo-neek)

Fact: Romania is home to the world’s youngest grandparent. Rifca Stanescu became a grandparent at just 23 years old! She gave birth to her daughter, Maria, at age 12, who then gave birth to her son at age 11.

2. Italy

Language: Italian

Grandma: Nonna (non-na)

Grandpa: Nonno (non-no)

Fact: According to Italian tradition, most parents will name their first-born son after his paternal grandfather and the second-born son after his maternal grandfather. The first-born daughter is named after her paternal grandmother and the second-born daughter is named after her maternal grandmother.

3. Greece

Language: Greek

Grandma: Yaya (yah-yah)

Grandpa: Pappoús (pa-poosch)

Fact: In Greece, most grandparents will live with their children’s family for their entire lives. Younger people generally don’t move out of their parents’ home until they marry.

4. Belgium

Language: Flemish

Grandma: Bomma (bo-ma)

Grandpa: Bonpa (bone-pa)

Fact: Next time you watch the Smurfs cartoon with your grandkids, remember that they were invented in Belgium! Pierre Culliford, a Belgian comics artist, first drew the little blue characters in 1958.

5. Japan

Language: Japanese

Grandma: Oba-chan, Sobo (oh-bah-chan, soh-boh)

Grandpa: Ojiisan, Sofu (oh-gee-sahn, soh-foo)

Fact: The traditional Japanese familial structure marks the eldest son as the heir to the family. This means that once his parents become too old to live alone, they will move in with their first-born son and his family to be taken care of.

6. Philippines

Language: Filipino

Grandma: Lola (low-lah)

Grandpa: Lolo (low-low)
Fact: Filipinos believe that eating pancit, a special kind of noodle, on your birthday will enable you to live longer. You could call it the Filipino version of a superfood!

7. Cambodia

Language: Khmer

Grandma: Yeay (yay)

Grandpa: Taa (tah)

Fact: Cambodians follow an extremely strict and traditional marriage route. Although marriages aren’t always arranged, the man must pay a dowry to the woman’s family before the ceremony and, typically, the bride is at least 10 years younger than her husband.

8. Hawaii (U.S.)

Language: Hawaiian
Grandma: Tutu, Kuku (too-too, coo-coo)

Grandpa: Tutu, Kane (too-too khan)

Fact: In Hawaiian, “ohana” means family, which includes everyone from dead ancestors and blood relatives to non-related close friends.

9. Israel

Language: Hebrew

Grandma: Savta (soft-tah)

Grandpa: Saba (sah-bah)

Fact: According to a poll conducted by the Women’s International Zionist Organization in 2012, about 25 percent of Israeli grandparents see their grandchildren more than once a week, and 20 percent see them daily.

10. Ireland

Language: Gaelic

Grandma: Maimeó (mam-o)

Grandpa: Daideó (dah-joe)

Fact: An old Irish superstition says that when a fork falls off the family dinner table, a woman will come to visit. When a knife falls, the visitor will be a man.

11. Peru

Language: Spanish

Grandma: Abuela (ah-bway-la)

Grandpa: Abuelo (ah-bway-low)
Fact: Peru boasts a mixture of native (pre-Colombian) Indian and Spanish colonial traditions, resulting in a rich cultural tapestry. The country’s most famous landmark is a mountain-top citadel built during the Incan empire called Machu Picchu.

12. South Korea

Language: Korean

Grandma: Halmoni (hal-muh-knee)

Grandpa: Halapoji (hal-ah-puh-jee)
Fact: Koreans celebrate the hwan gap, a traditional 60th birthday party with lots of food and a big celebration. Turning 60 is an important passage because the lunar calendar lasts 60 years, marking the next circle to begin in one’s life. Party on!

13. Russia

Language: Russian

Grandma: Babushka (bah-boosh-kah)

Grandpa: Dedushka (day-doosh-kah)

Fact: Even your grandma wouldn’t know whether it’ll rain or snow, is a popular Russian proverb meaning nobody can predict the future. Remember to live one day at a time!

14. Brazil

Language: Portuguese

Grandma: Avó (ah-vah)

Grandpa: Avô (ah-voh)

Fact: When Brazilians speak of family they generally include all extended family members on both sides. This parentela, or “kin,” will try to live close together—even in different apartments within the same building.

15. Australia

Language: English

Grandma: Grandma, Nanna, Nana

Grandpa: Grandad, Pop

Fact: Similar to life in America, the common household unit in Australia consists only of the nuclear family—parents and children. Although grandparents and extended family play a role in raising children, they generally don’t live under the same roof.

16. Kenya

Language: Swahili

Grandma: Bibi (bee-bee)

Grandpa: Babu (bah-boo)

Fact: Deceased ancestors play a large part in the lives of Kenyans. Most believe a person only really passes on completely when their relatives no longer remember them. Because of this limbo state, many Kenyans will name a baby after the deceased so his or her spirit can live on within the child.

17. Morocco

Language: Arabic

Grandma: Jiddah (shid-dah)

Grandpa: Jadd (shudd)

Fact: Life is long in Morocco—the average life expectancy is 76.31 years. But compare that to the highest ranking country, Monaco, where the life expectancy is 89.63 years! The United States is average, clocking in at 78.62 years.

18. India

Language: Telugu

Grandma: Awa (ah-wah)

Grandpa: Tata (tah-tah)

Fact: Although family traditions differ across India, the idea of a joint family system is a shared value. The entire extended family often will live together under one roof—this includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Talk about a full house!

19. Laos

Language: Hmong

Grandma: Pog (pahg)

Grandpa: Yawg (yahg)

Fact: Typically, newlywed couples in Laos will live with the parents of the bride until their next daughter is married (if they have more daughters).

20. France

Language: French

Grandma: Grand-mère (gran-mare)

Grandpa: Grand-père (gran-pear)

Fact: According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the average size of French households is at 2.38 persons per house. This is lower than the global average—2.63 people.