baka
/bǎːka/feminine
The English word "grandmother" is translated into Croatian as baka. Wiktionary also lists baba and nena.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Croatian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| baka | /bǎːka/ | feminine |
| baba | Latin, feminine | |
| nena | Latin, feminine | |
| staramajka | Latin, feminine |
All forms in this list refer to the mother of one's parent.
Which one should you use?
The form baka is the most common, standard and affectionate way to say grandmother. The form baba can mean grandmother, but it is often used to refer to an old woman in a potentially disrespectful or blunt way. The forms nena and staramajka are also used to mean grandmother.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Slavonia region of eastern Croatia, the word oma is used to refer to grandmothers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of baka is bake.
How do you pronounce it?
/bǎːka/
Did you know?
- The term nena is not actually Slavic in origin but was borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish word nene.
- The word staramajka is a compound noun that literally merges the Croatian words for 'old' and 'mother'.
- While baka is used for family, the word baba can be used as a generic term for any elderly woman regardless of her relationship to the speaker.
Examples in context
- Moja baka je postala vrlo stara.My grandmother has become very old.This sentence shows how to use the form baka to describe someone's age.Tatoeba #12338547 by Ivanabari123, translation #12338405 by sundown
- Ja sam jako blizak/la sa svojom bakom.I am very close to my grandmother.
- Baka ima predivan vrt.Grandmother has a beautiful garden.
- Moja baka živi u gradu.My grandmother lives in the city.
- Baka mi je ispecla kolač.Grandmother baked a cake for me.
Example conversation
Mateo and Ana are looking at old family photographs.
- MateoTko je ova žena na slici?Who is this woman in the picture?
- AnaTo je moja baka iz Zadra.That is my grandmother from Zadar.
- MateoIzgleda jako ljubazno.She looks very kind.
- AnaDa, moja baka je najnježnija osoba.Yes, my grandmother is the gentlest person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries baka, nena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baba, baka, nena, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
