# grandma

/ˈɡɹændmɑ/ (US) · /ɡɹˈændmɑː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grandma
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. grandmother

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal

the mother of your father or mother.

For teachers: an informal term for a grandmother, frequently used as a term of endearment or a proper noun within a family.

- My grandma always bakes delicious cookies when we visit her on Sundays.
- After retiring from the textile mill, my grandma spent most of her afternoons teaching the younger generation how to knit traditional patterns.

Usage: Often capitalized when used as a proper name for a specific person.

### 2. elderly woman

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a way to address an older woman you do not know.

For teachers: a term of address for an elderly woman; can be perceived as patronising or derogatory depending on the speaker's intent and tone.

- The teenager rudely shouted at the woman, calling her 'grandma' when she walked too slowly.
- Using 'grandma' to address a stranger in a professional setting is generally considered disrespectful and overly familiar.

Teaching tip: In many cultures, using this with a stranger is seen as rude or ageist; learners should stick to 'ma'am' or no title at all.

### 3. to act as a grandmother

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to behave like a grandmother or to call someone 'grandma'.

For teachers: to perform the role of a grandmother or to address someone using the term; used transitively or intransitively.

- She loves to grandma all the neighborhood kids by giving them sweets.
- She has been grandmaing the local orphans for years, providing the emotional support their biological families could not.

Usage: This verbal use is rare and highly informal.

## Examples

- My grandma makes the best apple pie.
- Every Sunday, we visit my grandma at her house in the countryside.
- The children spent the entire afternoon listening to their grandma recount stories of her childhood in a small coastal village.

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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.