діду́сь
didúsʹmasculine
The Ukrainian word for grandfather is діду́сь (didúsʹ). Wiktionary also lists дід (did).
Meaning: grandfather (from either side) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| діду́сь | didúsʹ | masculine | |
| дід | did | [dʲid] (narrow) | masculine |
Both дід and діду́сь are used to refer to a grandfather from either the paternal or maternal side.
Which one should you use?
дід is the standard, neutral term for grandfather. In contrast, діду́сь is an affectionate, diminutive version of the word, similar to the English 'grandpa' or 'gramps'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing possession, the forms change. The neutral form дід becomes діда in the genitive case, while the affectionate form діду́сь becomes дідуся.
How do you pronounce it?
didúsʹ
Did you know?
- In certain old Ukrainian proverbs, a дід might represent a person of great wisdom or a personified force of nature, like the forest or the wind.
- The root of дід is inherited from the Proto-Slavic word dědъ, which is a direct descendant of an even older Proto-Indo-European root.
- While діду́сь is affectionate, it can also be used by adults when speaking to a very old man to show warmth and respect in a village setting.
Examples in context
- Том мій дід.Tom is my grandfather.This sentence shows how to identify someone as your дід.Tatoeba #7109444 by deniko, translation #1495853 by CK
- Мій дід тесляр.My grandfather is a carpenter.This sentence uses дід to describe a grandfather's occupation.Tatoeba #7241651 by deniko, translation #250235 by CK
- Я свій власний дід.I am my own grandfather.This sentence uses дід in a humorous context.Tatoeba #6161108 by deniko, translation #6130534 by mailohilohi
- 75 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandfather” translations and entries дід, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries дід, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
