阿嬷
a-má
The Hokkien word for grandma is 阿嬷 (a-má).
阿嬷 is used as an informal way to refer to one's grandmother. It can also be used as a general, informal term to address any elderly woman.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the prefix 阿 (a), which is often used in kinship terms and 嬷 (má), meaning grandmother or an elderly woman.
Which one should you use?
While it is a common term for grandma, in many Hokkien-speaking households, 阿嬷 is often used specifically to refer to the paternal grandmother.
How do you pronounce it?
a-má
Did you know?
- The character 嬷 specifically refers to an elderly female, and in historical contexts, it was used for wet nurses or elderly female servants who cared for children.
- If you are in a traditional Hokkien market, you might hear vendors call an elderly woman 阿嬷 as a way to build rapport and create a sense of community.
- In Taiwan, the term 阿嬷 is often associated with the 'traditional' rural image of a grandmother, sometimes appearing in media to signify folk wisdom or old-world values.
Examples in context
- 我想欲去探望阿嬷。goá siūⁿ-beh khì thàn-bāng a-má.I want to go visit grandma.
Example conversation
Zhiming and Xiaowen are looking at an old family photo.
- 志明 Chi-ming這個人是誰？Tsié-ê lâng sī siú?Who is this person?
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun這是我的阿嬷。Tsié sī guá ê a-má.This is my grandma.
- 志明 Chi-ming她看起來很年輕。I kind-khuànn chin nián-tsīng.She looks very young.
- 曉雯 Hiau-bun對，她很漂亮。Tùi, i chin piò-liàng.Yes, she is very beautiful.
