grandma
gb/ɡɹˈændmɑ/ us/ɡɹˈændmɑ/
A1
English
~ 9500
nagyi, nagymama, pótnagyi, vén trotty, öregasszony
NOUN
A1
INFORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
[possessive determiner] grandma
My grandma lives in a small town by the sea.
A nagyim egy kis tengerparti városban él.
We always bake cookies with my grandma at Christmas.
Karácsonykor mindig sütit sütünk a nagyimmal.
After school, the kids go to their grandma for a snack.
Her grandma taught her how to sew by hand.
I called my grandma to wish her a happy birthday.
Learner examples
My grandma is 80 years old.
A nagyim 80 éves.
We visit my grandma every Sunday.
Minden vasárnap meglátogatjuk a nagyimat.
I love my grandma very much.
My grandma makes very good soup.
Tomorrow I will stay at my grandma's house.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "grandma" in very formal writing (such as academic texts or official documents), where "grandmother" is more appropriate. Some also forget the possessive pattern and say "I go to grandma house" instead of "I go to my grandma's house" or "I go to my grandma's."
Meaning
someone's grandmother (informal)
Collocations
my grandma
|visit my grandma
|Grandma's house
|Grandma and Grandpa
|live with Grandma
|stay at Grandma's
Synonyms
grandmother (More formal and standard; used in writing and polite speech.)
|
granny (Very informal and often more childish or very affectionate.)
Antonyms
grandpa (Refers to the male grandparent rather than the female one.)
Themes
family
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The mother of your father or mother; an informal word for grandmother.
An informal word for one’s grandmother; the mother of one’s father or mother.
NOUN
A1
INFORMAL
2
nagyi
A1
Usage pattern:
Grandma, [clause]
Grandma, can you tell me that story again?
Nagyi, elmesélnéd még egyszer azt a történetet?
Thanks for the sweater, Grandma, I love it.
Köszönöm a pulóvert, Nagyi, nagyon tetszik.
Grandma, are you coming to my school play tomorrow?
Goodnight, Grandma, see you in the morning.
Grandma, I need help with my homework.
Learner examples
Grandma, I am home.
Nagyi, hazaértem.
Can you help me, Grandma?
Tudsz segíteni, Nagyi?
I love you, Grandma.
Grandma, are you tired?
Thank you, Grandma, for the gift.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget to capitalize "Grandma" when it is used like a name ("I said, grandma, come here" instead of "I said, Grandma, come here"). When it is not used as a name but as a common noun ("my grandma"), it should not be capitalized.
Meaning
form of address to grandmother
Collocations
Hi, Grandma
|Thanks, Grandma
|Goodnight, Grandma
|Grandma, can you [verb]
|Yes, Grandma
|No, Grandma
Synonyms
Grandmother (More formal and respectful; less common as a direct form of address in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
Grandpa (Used to address a male grandparent instead of a female one.)
Themes
family
|conversation
|daily_life
|communication
|relationships
Definition
The word you say to your grandmother when you talk to her, like a name.
A familiar form of address used when speaking directly to one’s grandmother, often treated like a name.
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
like a grandma to [someone]
The children visit the grandmas at the nursing home every Friday to read stories.
A gyerekek minden pénteken meglátogatják az idősotthonban lakó nagyikat, hogy meséket olvassanak nekik.
She’s not my real relative, but she’s like a grandma to me.
Nem igazi rokonom, de olyan nekem, mintha a nagymamám lenne.
The daycare invites local grandmas to come and bake with the kids.
Everyone on the street knows the sweet grandmas who sit on that bench each afternoon.
He calls the friendly lady downstairs his building grandma.
Learner examples
The kids read books to the grandmas in the home.
A gyerekek könyveket olvasnak fel az idősotthonban lakó nagyiknak.
She is like a grandma to me.
Olyan nekem, mint egy nagyi.
We have two kind grandmas in our building.
The grandmas at the center play with the children.
I have an old neighbor who is like my grandma.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "grandma" can always replace "old woman"; however, "grandma" usually suggests affection or a family-like feeling, not just age.
Meaning
elderly woman in grandmother role
Collocations
like a grandma to me
|the neighborhood grandmas
|local grandmas
|the grandmas at the center
|adopted grandma
|playgroup grandmas
Synonyms
elderly woman (Neutral and descriptive; does not include the emotional or family-like feeling of "grandma.")
Antonyms
young woman (Contrasts with the idea of an older, grandmother-like woman.)
Themes
family
|relationships
|community
|daily_life
Definition
An old woman who is like a grandmother to someone, even if she is not really their grandmother.
An older woman, not necessarily a biological grandmother, who is seen or treated like a grandmother in a family or community.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
4
vén trotty
C1
öregasszony
B2
Usage pattern:
be such a grandma
Don’t be such a grandma—come out with us tonight.
Ne legyél már ilyen vén trotty, gyere el velünk ma este.
He drives like a grandma and never goes over the speed limit.
Úgy vezet, mint egy öregasszony, és sosem lépi túl a sebességhatárt.
You sound like a grandma, always telling us to wear a jacket.
She’s a total grandma about money and refuses to buy anything unnecessary.
Stop acting like a grandma and just try the roller coaster.
Learner examples
Don’t be a grandma, come to the party.
Ne legyél már ilyen vén trotty, gyere el a buliba.
He drives like a grandma, very slow.
Úgy vezet, mint egy öregasszony, nagyon lassan.
You are a grandma about health; you worry about everything.
My friends call me a grandma because I go to bed early.
She is a little grandma when we talk about safety.
Common mistake:
Learners may misunderstand this use as literally talking about someone’s grandmother. In these joking sentences, "grandma" can describe any person, male or female, and focuses on careful or old-fashioned behavior, not age or family.
Meaning
person acting overly cautious/old
Collocations
such a grandma
|stop being a grandma
|acting like a grandma
|sound like a grandma
|don’t be a grandma
|total grandma about [something]
Synonyms
worrier (Focuses on anxiety; "grandma" adds a playful, age-related image.)
Antonyms
daredevil (Describes someone who takes a lot of risks, opposite of being overly cautious like a "grandma.")
Themes
personality
|humor
|daily_life
|emotions
Definition
A joking word for a person who is very careful, slow, or acts like an old person.
A playful or slightly teasing term for someone who behaves in an overly careful, slow, or old-fashioned way, like a stereotypical elderly grandmother.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grandma
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈændmɑ/
US/ɡɹˈændmɑ/
Syllables & stress
grandma (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (grandma)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: grandma
- Plural: grandmas
Word family
Forms
grandmas
noun
Core family
Related words
Expressions
go to Grandma's
1/ɡˈoʊ tə ɡɹˈændmˌɑz/
fixed phrase
visit your grandmother’s home
To visit the home of your grandma.
Examples
- We’re going to go to Grandma's this weekend.
- Every summer, the kids go to Grandma's for two weeks.
- I can’t play tonight because we have to go to Grandma's.
Grandma and Grandpa
1/ɡɹˈændmɑ ˈænd ɡɹˈændpˌɑ/
fixed phrase
grandparents as a pair
Your grandma and grandpa together.
Examples
- Grandma and Grandpa are coming for dinner tonight.
- We spent the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa in the countryside.
- The kids made a card for Grandma and Grandpa.