Learning how to say grandma in different languages is a beautiful way to connect with cultures around the world. Whether you’re researching family words, teaching kids global vocabulary, or exploring your heritage, knowing how to say grandma around the world helps build deeper understanding.
In this guide, you’ll discover how to say grandma in different languages, including native spellings and easy English pronunciations. This mobile-friendly table is perfect for quick reference, language learners, and anyone searching for accurate grandma translations in all languages.
Grandma in 100 Different Languages
| Language / Country | Native Phrase | Pronunciation |
| English | Grandma | gran-ma |
| Spanish | Abuela | ah-BWEH-lah |
| French | Grand-mère | grahn-MEHR |
| German | Oma | OH-ma |
| Italian | Nonna | NON-nah |
| Portuguese | Avó | ah-VOH |
| Dutch | Oma | OH-ma |
| Russian | Бабушка | BA-boosh-ka |
| Ukrainian | Бабуся | BA-boo-sya |
| Polish | Babcia | BAP-cha |
| Czech | Babička | BA-bich-ka |
| Slovak | Babka | BAHB-ka |
| Hungarian | Nagymama | NAJ-ma-ma |
| Romanian | Bunica | BOO-nee-ka |
| Bulgarian | Баба | BA-ba |
| Serbian | Baka | BAH-ka |
| Croatian | Baka | BAH-ka |
| Slovenian | Babica | BA-bee-tsa |
| Greek | Γιαγιά | ya-YA |
| Turkish | Babaanne | ba-ba-AN-ne |
| Arabic | جدة | JAD-dah |
| Hebrew | סבתא | SAV-ta |
| Persian | مادربزرگ | ma-dar-bo-zorg |
| Hindi | दादी | DAA-dee |
| Urdu | دادی | DAA-dee |
| Bengali | দিদা | DEE-da |
| Punjabi | ਦਾਦੀ | DAA-dee |
| Gujarati | દાદી | DAA-dee |
| Marathi | आजी | AA-jee |
| Tamil | பாட்டி | PAA-tee |
| Telugu | అమ్మమ్మ | am-ma-ma |
| Kannada | ಅಜ್ಜಿ | AJ-jee |
| Malayalam | അമ്മുമ്മ | am-moom-ma |
| Sinhala | ආච්චි | AACH-chee |
| Nepali | हजुरआमा | ha-joor-AA-ma |
| Thai | คุณยาย | khun-YAI |
| Vietnamese | Bà | BA |
| Indonesian | Nenek | NEH-nek |
| Malay | Nenek | NEH-nek |
| Filipino | Lola | LO-la |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 奶奶 | nai-nai |
| Japanese | おばあさん | o-baa-san |
| Korean | 할머니 | hal-MO-nee |
| Mongolian | Эмээ | eh-MEE |
| Swahili | Bibi | BEE-bee |
| Zulu | Ugogo | oo-GO-go |
| Xhosa | Umakhulu | oo-ma-KOO-loo |
| Afrikaans | Ouma | OH-ma |
| Amharic | አያት | ah-YAT |
| Somali | Ayeeyo | ah-YEH-yo |
| Yoruba | Iya Agba | ee-YA ag-BA |
| Igbo | Nne Nne | neh-neh |
| Hausa | Kakà | KA-ka |
| Icelandic | Amma | AM-ma |
| Norwegian | Bestemor | BES-te-mor |
| Swedish | Mormor | MOR-mor |
| Danish | Bedstemor | BEST-e-mor |
| Finnish | Isoäiti | EE-so-ai-ti |
| Estonian | Vanaema | VA-na-e-ma |
| Latvian | Vecmāmiņa | VETS-ma-mi-nya |
| Lithuanian | Močiutė | mo-CHOOT-te |
| Albanian | Gjyshe | GYUH-she |
| Armenian | Տատիկ | TA-tik |
| Georgian | ბებია | BE-bee-a |
| Azerbaijani | Nənə | NE-ne |
| Kazakh | Әже | AH-zhe |
| Uzbek | Buvi | BOO-vee |
| Tajik | Бибӣ | BEE-bee |
| Pashto | انا | A-na |
| Kurdish | Dapîr | da-PEER |
| Khmer | យាយ | YAI |
| Lao | ຍ່າ | NYA |
| Burmese | အဖွား | a-PHWAR |
| Tibetan | ཨ་མ་ཆེ | a-ma-che |
| Hawaiian | Tūtū | TOO-too |
| Maori | Kuia | KOO-ee-a |
| Samoan | Tinā matua | TEE-na ma-TOO-a |
| Haitian Creole | Grann | GRAN |
| Malagasy | Bebe | BEH-be |
| Luxembourgish | Boma | BO-ma |
| Catalan | Àvia | A-vee-a |
| Basque | Amona | a-MO-na |
| Galician | Avoa | a-VO-a |
| Irish | Seanmháthair | shan-WAW-her |
| Scottish Gaelic | Seanmhair | shan-var |
| Welsh | Mam-gu | MAM-gee |
| Maltese | Nanna | NAN-na |
| Belarusian | Бабуля | ba-BOO-lya |
| Macedonian | Баба | BA-ba |
| Bosnian | Nana | NA-na |
Why Learning “Grandma” in Different Languages Matters
Family words are often the first vocabulary we learn in any language. Understanding how to say grandma in all languages helps children, travelers, and language learners communicate affection and respect across cultures. It also supports genealogy research and multicultural families.
Conclusion
Now you know how to say grandma in different languages across 100 global cultures. From Abuela in Spanish to 奶奶 (nǎi nǎi) in Mandarin, these translations show the warmth and love associated with grandmothers worldwide. Keep this guide handy whenever you want accurate grandma translations around the world.
FAQs About Grandma in Different Languages
1. What is grandma in most languages?
Many languages use soft repeating sounds like nana, baba, or amma, making them easy for children to say.
2. How do you say grandma in European languages?
Examples include Oma (German), Nonna (Italian), Abuela (Spanish), and Grand-mère (French).
3. How do you say grandma in Asian languages?
In Mandarin it’s Nǎinai, in Hindi Dadi, in Japanese Obaasan, and in Korean Halmeoni.
4. Why are grandma words often similar worldwide?
Because many grandma terms come from baby-talk sounds that are easy to pronounce.
5. Where can I find grandma translations in all languages?
This guide provides 100 widely spoken languages to help you learn how to say grandma around the world.