How to Say "Grandma" in Dutch

oma

/ˈoː.maː/

The Dutch word for grandma is oma.

oma is the common term used to refer to a grandmother. It is widely accepted and used by both children and adults.

Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)

Which one should you use?

oma is the common informal term, while grootmoeder is the formal way to say grandmother.

In certain regions, such as East and West Flanders, the informal term mémé is commonly used to address grandmothers.

To form the plural of oma, add an 's' to get oma's.

The pronunciation is /ˈoː.maː/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.

The word oma likely originated from a common childhood mispronunciation of the formal word grootma.
While oma is standard, using the formal grootmoeder in a casual conversation can sound intentionally cold or even sarcastic.
A Dutch person might refer to their 'oma' using an affectionate diminutive like omaatje to show extra warmth.

Hoe oud is je oma?
How old is your grandma?
This sentence is useful for asking about the age of your oma.
Tatoeba #9086773 by MarijnKp, translation #12483423 by cost_
Oma kijkt graag tv.
Grandma likes watching TV.
This sentence is useful for stating that oma enjoys watching television.
Tatoeba #7562530 by MarijnKp, translation #838811 by Scott
Mijn oma is 75 jaar oud.
My grandma is 75 years old.
This sentence is useful for describing the age of your oma.
Tatoeba #7913799 by MarijnKp, translation #4122775 by dan1ruusianspanish
Goedemorgen, bomma! Hoe gaat het met u?
Good morning, grandma! How are you?
Hoi oma! Ik ben zo blij om je te zien!
Hi grandma! I'm so happy to see you!
24 more sentences on Tatoeba

Noah and Lisa are talking about their family members at home.

Sources

Wiktionary, “grandma” translations and entries oma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries oma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏