جَدَّة
jaddafeminine
The English word grandma translates to Arabic as جَدَّة (jadda) or تِيتَة.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| جَدَّة | jadda | feminine |
| تِيتَة | tīta | feminine |
Both terms refer to a grandmother, but they are used in different contexts and levels of familiarity.
Which one should you use?
جَدَّة is the standard word for grandmother, whereas تِيتَة is an informal and affectionate way to say grandma.
Is it said differently in some regions?
While تِيتَة is used in many Arabic dialects, it is particularly common in Egypt and the Levant.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both جَدَّة and تِيتَة are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
jadda
Did you know?
- The word جَدَّة is also the name of the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, though the city's name likely derives from a word meaning 'shore' or 'coast' rather than 'grandmother'.
- The word تِيتَة is believed by many linguists to have roots in the sounds infants make when first learning to speak, making it a universal type of 'baby talk' term rather than a formal linguistic evolution.
- In some North African dialects, you might hear للا used as a term of respect for a grandmother or an elderly woman, which historically denoted a lady of high social rank.
Examples in context
- أنا أحب جدتي كثيرًا.I love my grandmother very much.
Example conversation
Yousef and Maryam are talking about their family.
- يوسف Youssefهل ستزور جَدَّة اليوم؟hal satazuru jadda al-yawm?Will you visit grandma today?
- مريم Maryamنعم، سأذهب إليها الآن.na'am, sa-adhhabu ilayha al-an.Yes, I am going to her now.
- يوسف Youssefسلم لي على جَدَّة.sallim li 'ala jadda.Give my regards to grandma.
- مريم Maryamسأفعل ذلك بالتأكيد.sa-af'alu dhalika bi-ta'keed.I will definitely do that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandma” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
