grandmother
GRAN-muh-thuh
Grandmother (noun) means the mother of one's mother or father. Example: “My grandmother lives by the sea and sends us postcards every month.”
noun
1
The mother of one's mother or father.
""It's a nightingale floor," our grandmother told us. "It warns us of thieves in the night.""
— Michael Ondaatje, Warlight (2018)
"Viral YouTuber and grandmother Shirley Curry, better known as ‘Skyrim Grandma’ is finally playing another Bethesda RPG after nine years."
— Michael Gwilliam, 89-year-old Skyrim Grandma switches to another RPG after 9 years (2025)
"My grandmother lives by the sea and sends us postcards every month."
"We visit our grandmother every Sunday for tea and homemade cake."
"His grandmother taught him to bake bread from scratch."
How to use grandmother
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishYour parent's mother.
Common pairings
great-grandmother
maternal grandmother
paternal grandmother
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Word forms
- Plural
- grandmothers
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My _____ lives by the sea and sends us postcards every month.
Etymology
From Middle English graundmodre, formed from "grand-" plus "mother," replacing the older word "eldmother."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for grandmother
See all rhymes for 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.
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