abuela
/aˈbwela/
The English phrase "grandma" is translated into Spanish as abuela. Wiktionary also lists abuelita.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| abuela | /aˈbwela/ /aˈwela/ (dialectal) |
| abuelita | /abweˈlita/ |
Both abuela and abuelita are used to refer to a grandmother in an informal manner.
Which one should you use?
While abuela is the standard term, the diminutive form abuelita is used to express more affection or to sound more endearing, often translated as "little grandma" or "granny".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Catalan and Valencian regions of Spain, yaya is a popular option to address a grandma.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to a group of grandmothers, use the plural form abuelas. If you want to refer to both your grandmother and grandfather together, use the masculine plural form abuelos.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈbwela/
Did you know?
- The word abuela shares an ancient root with the English word 'avian', as both stem from the Latin 'avis', meaning 'bird'.
- In many Latin American cultures, the term abuela carries a much stronger sense of matriarchal authority and respect within the family than the English 'grandma' often does.
- In some Caribbean Spanish dialects, you might hear people use the term abuelita almost as a title of endearment for any elderly woman in the community, even if they are not related.
Examples in context
- Quiero a mi abuela.I want my grandma.This sentence is useful for expressing affection toward your abuela.Tatoeba #9505266 by Shishir, translation #10006669 by DJ_Saidez
- Mi abuela tiene 75 años.My grandma is 75 years old.This sentence is useful for stating the age of your abuela.Tatoeba #4124438 by ecorralest101, translation #4122775 by dan1ruusianspanish
- Mi abuela me quería mucho.My grandma loved me a lot.This sentence is useful for describing how much your abuela loved you.Tatoeba #2134487 by Shishir, translation #10501974 by tchrspet1
- Mi abuelita siempre prepara las mejores galletas.My grandma always makes the best cookies.
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are looking at a family photo.
- Mateo¿Quién es la señora de la foto?Who is the lady in the photo?
- ElenaElla es mi abuela, Mateo.She is my grandma, Mateo.
- MateoSe ve muy amable.She looks very kind.
- ElenaSí, mi abuela es la mejor.Yes, my grandma is the best.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandma” translations and entries abuela, abuelita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abuela, abuelita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
