nanna
The Sicilian word for grandma is nanna.
nanna is used to refer to a grandmother in an informal or affectionate manner, similar to the English term granny.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Did you know?
- Because it is rooted in ancient baby-talk, nanna shares a common ancestor with the Sanskrit word for mother, nanā.
- In Sicilian culture, the nanna often historically held the role of the primary storyteller and keeper of oral folklore for the grandchildren.
- While nanna refers to a grandmother in Sicilian, the word 'nanna' in standard Italian often refers to a baby's sleep or a lullaby.
Examples in context
- A nanna è picciridda.Grandma is small.
- Vogghiu beni a mia nanna.I love my grandma.
Example conversation
Antonio and Rosa are talking about their family dinner.
- AntonioChi cucina a nanna stasira?What is grandma cooking tonight?
- RosaRosa dice ca fa a pasta.Rosa says she is making pasta.
- AntonioA nanna cucina sempri a megghiu.Grandma always cooks the best.
- RosaSì, ha ragiuni Antonio.Yes, Antonio is right.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nanna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nanna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
