grandmother

From Middle English graundmodre, grauntmoder, granmoder, equivalent to grand- +‎ mother. Compare French grand-mère and English eldmother.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹænˌmʌðə/

• Audio (RP)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: grand‧mo‧ther

grandmother (plural grandmothers)

1. A mother of someone's parent.
2. A female ancestor or progenitor.

• (mother of someone's parent): baba (loanword from Eastern Europe), gammy, gram, gramma, gran, grandma, grandmom, granny, eldmother/eldermother, mamaw, meemaw, memaw, mimi, nain (Welsh), nan (British slang), nanna, nanny, nana

• (with regard to gender): grandfather
• (with regard to ancestry): granddaughter, grandson, grandchild

• grandparent

• paternal grandmother
• maternal grandmother

• great-grandmother

• great-grandfather

Many languages use different terms for the mother of someone's father and the mother of someone's mother. When such a distinction is required in English, the phrases maternal grandmother (“mother of one's mother”) and paternal grandmother (“mother of one's father”) can be used. Specific translations can be added at those entries.