oma
/ˈoː.maː/feminine
The English word 'grandmother' is translated into Dutch as oma or grootmoeder.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| oma | /ˈoː.maː/ | feminine |
| grootmoeder | /ˈɣroːtˌmu.dər/ | feminine |
Both terms refer to the mother of someone's parent.
What does it mean word for word?
The word grootmoeder is a compound of groot (big or great) and moeder (mother).
Which one should you use?
oma is the common, affectionate and informal way to refer to a grandmother in everyday conversation. In contrast, grootmoeder is a more formal term often used in official documents or when speaking about a grandmother in a detached, respectful way. You may also encounter the diminutive Omaatje, which means "little grandma" and is used informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both oma and grootmoeder are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoː.maː/. The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The common word oma likely evolved from the way small children mispronounce grootma.
- The diminutive Omaatje is rarely used for a real grandmother and is more often used to describe a small, elderly woman in a sympathetic way.
- While grootmoeder is formal, calling your own grandmother grootmoeder in a casual setting might sound unintentionally cold or even sarcastic.
Examples in context
- Waar woont je oma?Where does your grandmother live?This sentence shows how to ask about the residence of an oma.Tatoeba #8551111 by Elsofie, translation #687620 by lukaszpp
- Hoe oud is je oma?How old is your grandmother?This sentence is useful for asking about the age of an oma.Tatoeba #9086773 by MarijnKp, translation #2526358 by dipdowel
- Ik ben nog geen oma.I'm not a grandmother yet.This sentence shows how to use the word oma when referring to the status of being a grandmother.Tatoeba #8427505 by MarijnKp, translation #8397943 by CK
- 78 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Julia are looking at old family photos.
- LucasWie is deze vrouw op de foto?Who is this woman in the photo?
- JuliaDat is mijn oma, Lucas.That is my oma, Lucas.
- LucasZij ziet er erg lief uit.She looks very sweet.
- JuliaJa, mijn oma is heel vriendelijk.Yes, my oma is very friendly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries oma, grootmoeder, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grootmoeder, oma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
