seanmháthair
feminine
The English phrase "grandmother" is translated into Irish as seanmháthair. If unsure, use seanmháthair. Wiktionary also lists máthair mhór and mamó.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| seanmháthair | feminine |
| máthair mhór | feminine |
| mamó | feminine |
| máthair chríonna | feminine |
The term is a feminine noun used to refer to the mother of one's parent.
What does it mean word for word?
seanmháthair is a compound word made of sean, meaning old and máthair, meaning mother.
Which one should you use?
While seanmháthair is the standard term for grandmother, mamó is used as a pet name or more affectionately within families.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
seanmháthair is the standard form. For a more affectionate, informal term similar to 'granny' in English, you can use mamó.
Did you know?
- In some traditional Irish contexts, referring to an elder as sean- (old) is a mark of respect and wisdom rather than a comment on their physical age.
- The term seanmháthair has close relatives in other Gaelic languages, such as the Manx term shennvoir and the Scottish Gaelic seanmhair.
- The form máthair mhór can be used to mean 'big mother', which in certain contexts can refer to a grandmother or a matriarchal figure.
Example sentences for Irish are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries seanmháthair, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries máthair, seanmháthair, CC BY-SA 4.0.
