دادی
dadinoun, father's mother
In Pakistan, grandma is دادی (dadi) on your father's side and نانی (nani) on your mother's side. Children often add اماں (amma) and say دادی اماں (dadi amma) or نانی اماں (nani amma).
Meaning: grandmother (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pakistan | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| دادی | dadi | noun, father's mother |
| نانی | nani | noun, mother's mother |
| دادی اماں | dadi amma | affectionate |
| نانی اماں | nani amma | affectionate |
The words are used both as names and as titles, so a child says دادی، یہاں آئیں (dadi, yahan aaen), "Grandma, come here".
Which one should you use?
جان (jaan) is also used, as in دادی جان (dadi jaan), a bit more respectful than plain دادی (dadi).
When do people say it?
Grandmothers tell bedtime stories, and a traditional collection of such tales is called دادی اماں کی کہانیاں (dadi amma ki kahaniyan).
Did you know?
- A large part of Pakistani summer holidays are spent at نانی کا گھر (nani ka ghar), the maternal grandmother's house, and the phrase is a symbol of childhood comfort.
Examples in context
- دادی اماں کہانی سنا رہی ہیں۔dadi amma kahani suna rahi hain.Grandma is telling a story.
- نانی کے گھر چھٹیاں گزاریں گے۔nani ke ghar chhutiyan guzarenge.We will spend the holidays at Grandma's house.
- دادی جان کی طبیعت ٹھیک ہے۔dadi jaan ki tabiyat theek hai.Grandma is in good health.
Example conversation
Zoya visits her maternal grandmother in Sargodha during the summer break.
- Zoyaنانی اماں، السلام علیکم!nani amma, assalamu alaikum!Grandma, hello!
- Naniوعلیکم السلام، بیٹا، آ جاؤ۔walaikum assalam, beta, aa jao.Hello, dear, come in.
- Zoyaآپ نے میرے لیے کیا پکایا ہے؟aap ne mere liye kya pakaya hai?What did you cook for me?
