djed
/djêd/Latin, masculine
The English phrase grandfather is djed in Bosnian. Wiktionary also lists ded and deda.
Meaning: grandfather (from either side) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Bosnian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| djed | /djêd/ | Latin, masculine |
| ded | /dêd/ | Latin, masculine |
| deda | /dêda/ | Latin, masculine |
| deka | /dêka/ /děka/ |
Latin, masculine |
| dekica | Latin, masculine | |
| dedica | Latin, masculine |
The term refers to a grandfather from either side of a person's family.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
deda is an informal and affectionate way to say 'grandpa,' commonly used by children and within families. dekica and dedica also serve as forms of the word.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the grandfather as a direct object in a sentence, such as in 'I see grandfather', the accusative form djeda is used. Additionally, if you are using the word deda, the plural form for grandfathers is dede.
How do you pronounce it?
/djêd/
Did you know?
- The word djed descends from the Proto-Slavic root *dědъ, which is a linguistic relative to the English word 'dead'.
- In Bosnian, the term djed is frequently used in idioms to describe anyone who is very old or experienced, even if they have no grandchildren.
- In Bosnian, adding the suffix '-ica' to 'deda' to create 'dedica' is not just a way to say 'grandpa', but is a specific grammatical method of 'diminution' to express extreme tenderness.
Examples in context
- Dobar dan, dedo! Kako ste danas?Good day, grandfather! How are you today?
- Ej, djede! Kako si?Hey, grandpa! How are you?
- Hvala ti za sve, djedice.Thank you for everything, grandad.
- Gdje je tvoj djed?Where is your grandfather?
Example conversation
Lejla and Adnan are looking at old family photos.
- LejlaKo je ovaj čovjek na slici?Who is this man in the picture?
- AdnanTo je moj djed iz mladosti.That is my grandfather in his youth.
- LejlaIzgleda veoma ljubazno.He looks very kind.
- AdnanDa, moj djed je uvijek bio tako.Yes, my grandfather was always like that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandfather” translations and entries djed, ded, deda, deka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries deka, djed, CC BY-SA 4.0.
