mamó
feminine
The English word "grandma" is translated into Irish as mamó. Wiktionary also lists maimeó and móraí.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| mamó | feminine |
| maimeó | feminine |
| móraí | feminine |
These terms are used to refer to a grandmother in an informal or affectionate way.
Which one should you use?
While mamó is a common informal term for grandma, it is often used as a more affectionate or diminutive form compared to more formal terms. The forms maimeó and mamó are both feminine terms for grandma, whereas móraí is also a feminine form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
mamó is a regional variation used in the Connacht and Munster dialects.
Did you know?
- In Irish, the word seanmháthair for grandmother literally translates to 'old mother'.
- Even though these words are informal, they are the standard way to address elders in many traditional Irish-speaking communities, rather than being seen as 'slang'.
- The word mamó is structurally similar to the English 'mammy', reflecting a common linguistic pattern where repetitive, soft vowel sounds are used for intimate family titles.
Examples in context
- An bhfuil do mamó anseo?Is your grandma here?
- Is maith le mamó rince.Grandma likes dancing.
- Chonaic mé mamó ar an mbóthar.I saw grandma on the road.
Example conversation
Saoirse and Cathal are talking about their family visit.
- SaoirseAn bhfuil mamó ag teacht go dtí an baile?Is grandma coming to town?
- CathalTá, beidh sí anseo amárach.Yes, she will be here tomorrow.
- SaoirseTá mé agneamh an t-am ansin.I am counting down the time until then.
- CathalBeidh sé go hiontach, a Saoirse.It will be wonderful, Saoirse.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandma” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
