abuela
everyday
The usual word for grandma in Argentina is abuela. Children use abu as a pet form, and in families of Italian descent nona is also very common.
Meaning: grandmother, familiar form (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| abuela | everyday |
| abu | affectionate |
| nona | Italian family |
To address her directly, many Argentines say abu or abuela. For my grandma the phrase is mi abuela.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Nona comes from Italian nonna. It reflects the large number of Italian immigrants in Argentina.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form is abuelo, and abuelos is the plural for both grandparents.
Did you know?
- Many Argentine families eat ñoquis on the 29th of each month, a custom that sometimes gets tied to grandparents' cooking.
Examples in context
- Mi abuela hace unos ravioles riquísimos.My grandma makes delicious ravioli.
- Abu, ¿me contás un cuento?Grandma, will you tell me a story?
Example conversation
Lucas visits his grandmother Rosa for Sunday lunch in Buenos Aires.
- LucasHola, abu. ¿Qué cocinaste?Hi, grandma. What did you cook?
- RosaRavioles con salsa.Ravioli with sauce.
- LucasMi comida favorita.My favorite food.
