انا
anā́/aˈnɑ/
The Pashto word for grandma is انا (anā́).
انا is used to refer to a grandmother in an informal manner.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is anā́. The pronunciation is /aˈnɑ/.
When do people say it?
When addressing a grandmother, you can use her name followed by the term Jan (for example, Mariam Jan) to convey both respect and affection.
Did you know?
- Pashto often distinguishes between the paternal and maternal grandmother, and while انا is a general term, more specific terms exist to clarify which side of the family is being discussed.
- In many Pashtun households, calling an elder simply by their name is considered a grave sign of disrespect, even if you add 'Jan'.
- The suffix 'Jan' used with 'ana' is of Persian origin and is used across many different languages in the region to turn a name into a term of endearment.
Example conversation
Khan and Zala are talking about their families at home.
- خان Khanزالا، ستاسو انا چیرته ده؟Zala, staso ana chirta da?Zala, where is your grandma?
- زالا Zalaهغه په خونه کې ده.Hagha pa khuna ke da.She is at home.
- خان Khanزه غواړم چې هغې ته سلام ووایم.Ze ghwaram che haghe ta salam wowayam.I want to say hello to her.
- زالا Zalaبیا راشه، انا به ډېره خوشحاله شي.Bia rasha, ana ba dera khushala she.Come then, grandma will be very happy.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry انا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
