grandmother
46 synonyms and 4 antonyms for grandmother, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The mother of one's mother or father.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use grandmother
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English graundmodre, formed from "grand-" plus "mother," replacing the older word "eldmother."
Full origin of grandmother →Frequently asked questions
What does “grandmother” mean?
The word “grandmother” means the mother of one's mother or father. In plain terms, your parent's mother.
How do you pronounce “grandmother”?
“Grandmother” is pronounced GRAN-muh-thuh (/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “grandmother” in a sentence?
Here is “grandmother” used in a sentence: “His grandmother taught him to bake bread from scratch.”
What is another word for “grandmother”?
Words with a similar meaning to “grandmother” include abuela, baba, babcia, babushka, babusia and babusya /babusia.
What is the opposite of “grandmother”?
The opposite of “grandmother” — its antonyms — are grandfather, granddaughter, grandson and grandchild.
What part of speech is “grandmother”?
“Grandmother” is a noun.
Where does the word “grandmother” come from?
The word “grandmother” comes from Middle English. From Middle English graundmodre, formed from "grand-" plus "mother," replacing the older word "eldmother.".
Is “grandmother” a common word?
“Grandmother” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between grandmother and grandma?
Grandmother is the standard, more formal term for the mother of one's mother or father. Grandma, granny, and nan are informal, affectionate forms used mainly in everyday family speech.
What is the difference between a grandmother and a great-grandmother?
A grandmother is the mother of your own mother or father. A great-grandmother is one generation further back, the mother of one of your grandparents.
What is the difference between a maternal and a paternal grandmother?
A maternal grandmother is your mother's mother, and a paternal grandmother is your father's mother. Both are grandmothers, and the terms simply say which side of the family they come from.
Is grandmother written as one word or two?
Grandmother is written as a single word. Forms such as 'grand mother' with a space are incorrect in modern English.