mamie
/ma.mi/
The French word for grandma is mamie.
Mamie is an affectionate and informal way to refer to a grandmother, equivalent to the English terms 'granny' or 'nan'. It is the term most commonly used by children and within families.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While mamie is the affectionate term used within families, the standard and more formal term for grandmother is grand-mère. Another informal option is mémé, though this can sometimes carry a slightly old-fashioned or even slightly derogatory connotation depending on the context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Mamie is a childish and informal term. For more formal situations, use the standard term grand-mère.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make mamie plural, add an 's' to get mamies.
How do you pronounce it?
/ma.mi/
Did you know?
- In some French families, the term mamie is used as a general term of endearment for any elderly woman who is a close family friend, even if she is not a biological grandmother.
- The term mamie is often used in French advertising and branding for traditional sweets and home-cooked products to evoke a feeling of nostalgia and authenticity.
- The word mamie is a linguistic cousin to the German word Mami, showing a shared European tendency to use 'm' sounds for maternal figures.
Examples in context
- Fais un bisou à mamie.Give grandma a kiss.This sentence shows how to use mamie when telling someone to kiss a grandmother.Tatoeba #7715837 by Blabla, translation #7762370 by karloelkebekio
- Ma mamie m'a donné ce collier.My grandma gave me this necklace.This sentence demonstrates how to use mamie when talking about a gift from a grandmother.Tatoeba #11318582 by lbdx, translation #2737507 by CM
- Le garçon vient voir sa mamie.The boy visits his grandma.This sentence illustrates the use of mamie when describing a boy visiting his grandmother.Tatoeba #12182978 by lbdx, translation #7594595 by _undertoad
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are talking about their family in the living room.
- LucasTu appelles ta mamie ce soir ?Are you calling your grandma tonight?
- LéaOui, je lui ai promis.Yes, I promised her.
- LucasElle va être très contente.She will be very happy.
- LéaC'est vrai, elle me manque.That's true, I miss her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandma” translations and entries mamie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mamie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
