How to Say “Grandma” in Turkish

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büyükanne
/by.jy.kanˈne/
The Turkish word for grandma is büyükanne.
Büyükanne is the standard term used to mean grandmother. To refer specifically to a maternal grandmother (your mother's mother), use anneanne. To refer to a paternal grandmother (your father's mother), use babaanne. You may also encounter the informal term nene, which can refer to any grandmother regardless of which side of the family she is from.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word büyükanne is a compound formed from büyük, meaning big or great and anne, meaning mother.

Which one should you use?

While büyükanne is the standard term for grandmother, it is often considered more formal or descriptive than the more affectionate or specific terms used in daily conversation, such as anneanne or babaanne.

How do you pronounce it?

The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable. It is pronounced /by.jy.kanˈne/. The sounds are similar to the English words: b as in [b]out, j as in [y]es, k as in [c]ore and n as in [n]ot.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Be careful not to confuse the word ninni, which means lullaby, with terms for grandmother.

When do people say it?

When writing a letter or a message to a maternal grandmother, you might use the phrase Sevgili Anneanne to mean Dear Grandma.

Did you know?

  • The word nene is famously linked to Nene Hatun, a national heroine who fought in the Russo-Turkish War, making the term associated with strength and bravery.
  • In Turkish culture, it is common to address an elderly woman as nene even if she is a complete stranger, as a sign of respect and affection.
  • While büyükanne is the textbook translation, using it with your own grandmother can actually feel cold or distant, almost like calling her 'great mother' in a formal setting.

Examples in context

  • Büyükannemin bir ikizi var.
    My grandma has a twin.
    Tatoeba #5118261 by duran, translation #5116586 by Airvian
  • Büyükanne eskisi gibi değil.
    Grandma isn't what she used to be.
    Tatoeba #10688477 by merveekeskin, translation #10688467 by felidad
  • Büyükannem TV izlemeyi seviyor.
    Grandma likes watching TV.
    Tatoeba #5408466 by duran, translation #838811 by Scott
  • 37 more sentences on Tatoeba

Example conversation

Burak and Zeynep are looking at an old family photo.

  1. Burak

    Bu fotoğraftaki kişi büyükanne mi?
    Is the person in this photo grandma?
  2. Zeynep

    Evet, bu benim büyükanne'm.
    Yes, this is my grandma.
  3. Burak

    Çok tatlı görünüyor.
    She looks very sweet.
  4. Zeynep

    Gerçekten çok iyi bir insandır.
    She really is a very good person.

Sources

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Judy Robyn
Judy RobynHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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