嫲嫲
maa4 maa4
The English word "grandma" can be translated into Cantonese as 嫲嫲 (maa4 maa4).
The term 嫲嫲 is used to refer to a grandmother. In Cantonese culture, children use 嫲嫲 as a direct address when speaking to or about their paternal grandmother.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 嫲嫲 refers specifically to the paternal grandmother (father's mother), the term 婆婆 (po4 po4) is used for the maternal grandmother (mother's mother). Additionally, Po Po is an informal way to say grandma.
How do you pronounce it?
maa4 maa4
Did you know?
- While 嫲嫲 refers to a paternal grandmother, calling a stranger 婆婆 is a common way to show respect to an elderly woman, even if she is not your grandmother.
- The word 嫲嫲 is a reduplicative word, a common feature in Cantonese where repeating a syllable creates a familiar or childlike tone.
- Cantonese has dozens of specific titles for different types of grandmothers, such as great-grandmothers or grand-aunts, making 嫲嫲 just the beginning of a complex kinship system.
Examples in context
- 我嫲嫲好鍾意食甜品。ngo5 maa4 maa4 hou2 zung1 ji3 sik6 tim4 ban2.My grandma loves eating desserts.
- 嫲嫲喺客廳睇電視。maa4 maa4 hai2 haak3 teng4 tai2 din6 si6.Grandma is watching TV in the living room.
- 你想唔想同嫲嫲一齊去公園？nei5 soeng2 m4 soeng2 tung4 maa4 maa4 jat1 cai4 heoi3 gung1 jyun4?Do you want to go to the park with grandma?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their family weekend plans.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung子健，你呢個禮拜去邊度？zi2 gin6, nei5 ni1 go3 lai5 baai3 heoi3 bin1 dou6?Zi Jian, where are you going this week?
- 子健 Tsz Kin我去探我嫲嫲。ngo5 heoi3 taam3 ngo5 maa4 maa4.I am going to visit my grandma.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung你嫲嫲住喺邊度？nei5 maa4 maa4 zyu6 hai2 bin1 dou6?Where does your grandma live?
- 子健 Tsz Kin佢住喺鄉下。keoi5 zyu6 hai2 hoeng1 haa6.She lives in the countryside.
