# How to say grandma in Spanish

[Kin](https://learnwithkin.com/) › [Spanish](https://learnwithkin.com/spanish)
Updated 2026-11-05 · By Jacob Pradels · HTML version: https://learnwithkin.com/spanish/grandma

> 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.** (teh KYEH-roh MOO-choh, ah-bweh-LEE-tah): I love you, granny.
  *Te quiero* is the everyday "I love you" for family.
- **¿Cómo estás, abuela?** (KOH-moh ehs-TAHS, ah-BWEH-lah): How are you, grandma?
- **Te extraño.** (teh eks-TRAH-nyoh): I miss you.
  In Spain it's *te echo de menos*.
- **Cuéntame cómo era antes.** (KWEHN-tah-meh KOH-moh EH-rah AHN-tehs): Tell me what it was like back then.
- **¡Qué rico!** (keh REE-koh): 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

- abuelita. Wiktionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/abuelita
- abue. Wiktionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/abue
- yaya. Wiktionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yaya
- nana. Wiktionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nana
- bisabuela. Wiktionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bisabuela
- nieto. Wiktionary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nieto

## Related

- [Spanish phrases for real situations](https://learnwithkin.com/spanish/phrases.md)
- [One thing, many words: Spanish by country](https://learnwithkin.com/spanish/regional-words.md)
- [How long does it really take to learn Spanish?](https://learnwithkin.com/spanish/how-long-to-learn.md)

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