# baba

/ˈbɑbə/ (US) · /bˈɑːbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/baba
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a grandmother

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Dialect

a word for grandmother or an elderly woman, especially in Eastern European cultures.

For teachers: a term of endearment or address for a grandmother or an elderly woman, particularly within Slavic or Eastern European contexts.

- My baba still makes the best traditional pierogi every Christmas.
- The documentary captures the daily lives of the village babas, who have maintained their traditional customs despite decades of social change.

Usage: Often used as a proper noun for one's own grandmother.

### 2. a spiritual leader

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a title for a holy man or a spiritual teacher in India.

For teachers: an honorific title for a Hindu or Sikh holy man, ascetic, or spiritual guide.

- Many people traveled to the mountains to seek advice from the baba.
- The baba sat in silent meditation, surrounded by devotees who had traveled across the country to receive his blessing.

Usage: Commonly used as a prefix before a name or as a standalone title of respect.

### 4. a father

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Dialect

a word for father used in many languages, such as Turkish, Swahili, or Greek.

For teachers: a kinship term for father, prevalent in various languages across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

- He called out to his baba when he saw him coming home from work.
- In many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern households, 'baba' remains the standard informal term for one's father.

### 5. a baby or child

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect · Informal

a word for a baby or a young child, often used in India or in baby talk.

For teachers: a term used to refer to a baby or young child, particularly in Indian English or as a nursery form.

- The little baba was sleeping soundly in the cradle.
- The nanny spent the afternoon entertaining the baba while the parents were at the market.

Teaching tip: This usage is most common in South Asian contexts or as a very informal nursery term.

## Examples

- We ordered a rum baba for dessert at the French restaurant.
- The pastry chef carefully soaked each baba in a spiced citrus syrup before topping them with whipped cream.
- While the traditional baba au rhum remains a staple of Parisian patisseries, modern variations often substitute the classic spirit for limoncello or fruit-infused syrups to appeal to contemporary palates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.