جدّة
jeddeneutral, standard
The neutral Lebanese word for grandmother is جدّة (jedde). Speakers say جدّتي (jiddti) or ستّي (sitti) for "my grandmother", and children call her تيتا (tēta).
Meaning: mother of a parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| جدّة | jedde | neutral, standard |
| ستّي | sitti | family, my grandmother |
| جدّتي | jiddti | my grandmother |
| تيتا | tēta | family, affectionate |
Use جدّة when you are describing or listing family members. Use ستّي or تيتا when you are talking warmly about yours.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In forms and in school, جدّة is the word. At home, people switch to the affectionate ones.
How does it change in a sentence?
جدّتي is جدّة with -ti, "my". The same ending is on ستّي in a shorter form.
Did you know?
- Kibbeh, Lebanon's national dish, is often described as something a grandmother makes best, and it is made with bulgur and meat.
Examples in context
- جدّتي عمرها ثمانين سنةjiddti ʿomra tmānīn sineMy grandmother is eighty years old.
- ستّي بتعمل أحلى كبةsitti btiʿmel aḥla kibbeMy grandmother makes the best kibbeh.
- عنّا جدّة بالضيعةʿanna jedde bid-ḍayʿaWe have a grandmother in the village.
Example conversation
Salim shows a family photo to a new friend at university in Beirut.
- Salimهيدي جدّتيhayde jiddtiThis is my grandmother.
- Friendشو حلوة! كم عمرها؟shū ḥelwe! kam ʿomra?How lovely! How old is she?
- Salimثمانين سنة وبعدها قويةtmānīn sine w baʿda ʾawiyyeEighty years old and still strong.
