How to say grandma in Spanish
Grandma is abuela, and grandpa is abuelo. Lots of families say abuelita and abuelito to their faces: the -ita makes it warmer, like granny. Casually you'll also hear abue, yaya and nana. Grandparents together are los abuelos.
Abuela is the word in every Spanish-speaking country. What changes is what she gets called at the kitchen table.
| Spanish | Means | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| abuela | grandmother | the normal word, for talking about her |
| abuelita | granny | what a lot of families actually call her |
| abue | gran | short and casual, for either grandparent |
| yaya | granny | casual, a family word |
| nana | granny | casual, but it can also mean a nanny |
Abuelita isn't "little grandma". The -ita ending in Spanish is mostly about affection, the same way cafecito is just a nice coffee. Saying mi abuelita sounds like you love her.
Careful with nana. In much of Latin America it's also a nanny, and it's a lullaby too (una nana para dormir). In your own family, everyone knows who la nana is.
Grandpa and grandparents
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| abuelo, abuelito | grandpa |
| los abuelos | grandparents, or just the grandfathers |
| las abuelas | the grandmothers |
| mis abuelos maternos | my mom's parents |
| mis abuelos paternos | my dad's parents |
Los abuelos covers both of them, the same way los padres is your parents. Spanish uses the masculine plural for a mixed group.
Up and down the family tree
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| bisabuela, bisabuelo | great-grandmother, great-grandfather |
| tatarabuela, tatarabuelo | great-great-grandmother, great-great-grandfather |
| nieta, nieto | granddaughter, grandson |
| los nietos | grandchildren |
| bisnieta, bisnieto | great-granddaughter, great-grandson |
Bis- is one generation further, tatara- is two. Same prefixes going up or down.
Things you'll want to say to her
- Te quiero mucho, abuelita.
- I love you, granny.
- Te quiero is the everyday "I love you" for family.
- ¿Cómo estás, abuela?
- How are you, grandma?
- Te extraño.
- I miss you.
- In Spain it's te echo de menos.
- Cuéntame cómo era antes.
- Tell me what it was like back then.
- ¡Qué rico!
- This is delicious!
- For whatever she just fed you.
If you're learning so you can actually talk with her, the fastest way in is hearing a lot of everyday Spanish: the kind of sentences she'd say. That's what Kin's short stories are for.
Questions
How do you say grandma in Spanish?
Abuela. Most people call their own grandma abuelita, which is warmer, like granny.
What does abuelita mean?
Granny. It's abuela with the affectionate -ita ending. It doesn't mean she's small.
How do you say grandparents in Spanish?
Los abuelos. The masculine plural covers grandma and grandpa together.
What is great-grandma in Spanish?
Bisabuela. Great-grandpa is bisabuelo, and great-great-grandma is tatarabuela.
Does nana mean grandma in Spanish?
It can: it's a casual word for granny. But it also means a nanny in Latin America, and a lullaby.
Sources
Keep going
- Spanish phrases for real situationsSpanish phrases grouped by the moment you need them, from ordering a coffee to meeting a partner's family, with pronunciation, a literal translation and what people actually mean. Spain and Latin America both covered.
- One thing, many words: Spanish by countryHow do you say straw, bus, beans or popcorn in Spanish? It depends on the country. The everyday words that change across the Spanish-speaking world, where each one is said, and which to learn.
- How long does it really take to learn Spanish?Realistic numbers for how long it takes an English speaker to learn Spanish, level by level, from the Foreign Service Institute and CEFR estimates, and what actually makes the hours count.