دادی
dādī/d̪ɑː.d̪iː/
The English word "grandma" can be translated into Urdu as دادی (dādī).
دادی is an informal term used to refer to a grandmother. To show respect when addressing her, you can add the honorific جی to the end of the word. To express affection and respect, you can also add جان to the end, forming دادی جان, which translates to "dear grandmother".
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
In Urdu, the specific side of the family is distinguished by the word used. دادی specifically refers to a paternal grandmother, whereas نانی is used for a maternal grandmother. Additionally, the informal term نانو is sometimes used to address a maternal grandmother.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create a more affectionate or respectful term for a grandmother by adding اماں after دادی, resulting in دادی اماں.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as dādī.
Did you know?
- The suffix جان used in دادی جان literally means 'life' or 'soul' in Persian, signifying that the grandmother is as precious as one's own life.
- In some Urdu-speaking households, the term دادی can be used as a general term of respect for any elderly woman, even if there is no biological relation.
- While دادی is the paternal grandmother, the maternal grandmother نانی is often seen as a more indulgent figure in South Asian folklore and family dynamics.
Examples in context
- میری دادی بہت اچھی ہیں۔meri dadi bohat achi hain.My grandma is very good.
- دادی، کیا آپ چائے پیئیں گی؟dadi, kya aap chai piyen gi?Grandma, will you drink tea?
- وہ میری دادی ہیں۔woh meri dadi hain.She is my grandma.
Example conversation
Aisha and Ahmed are talking about their family members.
- عائشہ Ayeshaاحمد، آپ کی دادی کیسی ہیں؟ahmed, aap ki dadi kaisi hain?Ahmed, how is your grandma?
- احمد Ahmedمیری دادی بالکل ٹھیک ہیں۔meri dadi bilkul theek hain.My grandma is perfectly fine.
- عائشہ Ayeshaیہ جان کر خوشی ہوئی۔yeh jaan kar khushi hui.I am happy to hear that.
- احمد Ahmedشکریہ، عائشہ۔shukriya, ayesha.Thank you, Aisha.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry دادی, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
