Großmutter
/ˈɡʁoːsˌmʊtɐ/feminine
The German word for grandmother is Großmutter. Wiktionary also lists Oma and Omi.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Großmutter | /ˈɡʁoːsˌmʊtɐ/ | feminine |
| Oma | /ˈoːma/ (standard) /ˈɔma/ (German, Western) |
feminine |
| Omi | /ˈoːmi/ | feminine |
| Großmütterlein | diminutive, neuter |
The term refers to the mother of someone's parent. While Großmutter is the standard term, many people use more familiar or affectionate variations in daily life.
Which one should you use?
Großmutter is the standard, formal term. Großmütterlein is a diminutive neuter form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of Großmutter is Großmütter.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡʁoːsˌmʊtɐ/
Did you know?
- The standard term Großmutter actually replaced an older German word, eltermuoter, which literally meant 'elder mother'.
- The diminutive Großmütterlein uses a neuter gender ending, even though the person it refers to is female.
- Using the full term Großmutter in a casual setting can sometimes sound intentionally stiff or even slightly ironic, as if you are being humorously formal.
Examples in context
- Sie ist meine Oma.She is my grandmother.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your Oma.Tatoeba #12207349 by mayabe, translation #6008216 by CannedBread
- Ich bin Toms Großmutter.I'm Tom's grandmother.This sentence is useful for stating your relationship to Tom using Großmutter.Tatoeba #2721754 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2547097 by CK
- Das ist meine Großmutter.This is my grandmother.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as your Großmutter.Tatoeba #1744434 by al_ex_an_der, translation #1744424 by Djef_Messaoudi
- Hallo Oma! Wie war dein Tag?Hello grandma! How was your day?
- Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, liebe Omi!Happy birthday, dear oma!
- 261 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are looking at an old family photograph.
- FelixWer ist die Frau auf diesem Foto?Who is the woman in this photo?
- JuliaDas ist meine Großmutter aus Berlin.That is my grandmother from Berlin.
- FelixSie sieht sehr freundlich aus.She looks very friendly.
- JuliaJa, meine Großmutter ist sehr lieb.Yes, my grandmother is very sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries Großmutter, Oma, Omi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Großmutter, Oma, Omi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
