grandma
gb/ɡɹˈændmɑ/ us/ɡɹˈændmɑ/
A1
English
~ 9500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
informal
A1
entity
1
someone's grandmother (informal)
The mother of your father or mother; an informal word for grandmother.
Usage pattern:
[possessive determiner] grandma
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."
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.)
Collocations
my grandma
|visit my grandma
|Grandma's house
|Grandma and Grandpa
|live with Grandma
|stay at Grandma's
Themes
family
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- My grandma lives in a small town by the sea.
- We always bake cookies with my grandma at Christmas.
- 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.
- We visit my grandma every Sunday.
- I love my grandma very much.
- My grandma makes very good soup.
- Tomorrow I will stay at my grandma's house.
Noun
informal
A1
entity
2
form of address to grandmother
The word you say to your grandmother when you talk to her, like a name.
Usage pattern:
Grandma, [clause]
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.
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.)
Collocations
Hi, Grandma
|Thanks, Grandma
|Goodnight, Grandma
|Grandma, can you [verb]
|Yes, Grandma
|No, Grandma
Themes
family
|conversation
|daily_life
|communication
|relationships
Examples
- Grandma, can you tell me that story again?
- Thanks for the sweater, Grandma, I love it.
- 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.
- Can you help me, Grandma?
- I love you, Grandma.
- Grandma, are you tired?
- Thank you, Grandma, for the gift.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
3
elderly woman in grandmother role
An old woman who is like a grandmother to someone, even if she is not really their grandmother.
Usage pattern:
like a grandma to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "grandma" can always replace "old woman"; however, "grandma" usually suggests affection or a family-like feeling, not just age.
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.)
Collocations
like a grandma to me
|the neighborhood grandmas
|local grandmas
|the grandmas at the center
|adopted grandma
|playgroup grandmas
Themes
family
|relationships
|community
|daily_life
Examples
- The children visit the grandmas at the nursing home every Friday to read stories.
- She’s not my real relative, but she’s like a grandma to me.
- 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.
- She is like a grandma to me.
- 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.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
4
person acting overly cautious/old
A joking word for a person who is very careful, slow, or acts like an old person.
Usage pattern:
be such a grandma
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.
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.")
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]
Themes
personality
|humor
|daily_life
|emotions
Examples
- Don’t be such a grandma—come out with us tonight.
- He drives like a grandma and never goes over the speed limit.
- 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.
- He drives like a grandma, very slow.
- 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.
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.