babushka
Babushka (noun) means a Russian grandmother, or an elderly Russian woman. Example: “The babushkas sat on the bench outside the block all afternoon.”
How to use babushka
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Russian grandmother, or the headscarf associated with one.
The headscarf sense is chiefly American and is unknown in Russian, where the word only means grandmother. Stress in Russian falls on the first syllable, BAH-boosh-kuh, though English speakers usually stress the second.
The stacking wooden dolls are matryoshka dolls, not babushka dolls, although the mistaken name is very common in English.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ sat on the bench outside the block all afternoon.
Etymology
From Russian babushka 'grandmother', a diminutive of baba 'old woman'.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
Does babushka mean grandmother or headscarf?
In Russian it means only grandmother. English picked up the second meaning because of the headscarves associated with older Russian women, so in American English a babushka can also be the scarf itself.
Are babushka dolls and matryoshka dolls the same thing?
They are the same object under two names, but only matryoshka is correct in Russian. Babushka doll is an English nickname that arose from the grandmotherly figure painted on the outermost doll.
What is the meaning of babushka?
"babushka" (noun) means a Russian grandmother, or an elderly Russian woman.
What is another word for babushka?
Other words for "babushka" include grandmother, granny, headscarf, kerchief.