انا
anā/aˈnɑ/feminine
The Pashto word for grandmother is انا (anā) or نيا.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Pashto | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| انا | anā | /aˈnɑ/ | feminine |
| نيا | nyā | /njɑ/ | feminine |
Both words refer to the mother of one's parent. They are feminine nouns.
Which one should you use?
انا is the default form for grandmother, while نيا is an alternative feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
anā (/aˈnɑ/)
Did you know?
- In some Pashto-speaking regions, using the term ana is not just a label for a relative, but a way to address any elderly woman with high status, even if she is not your biological grandmother.
- Certain Pashto dialects use the words ana and nya specifically to differentiate whether the grandmother is the mother of the father or the mother of the mother.
- In Pashto culture, the 'grandmother' often holds a specific position of authority in the household, sometimes overseeing the domestic management of multiple generations under one roof.
Example sentences for Pashto are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Maryam are looking at a family photo.
- احمد Ahmedدا څوک ده، مریم؟Da tsok da, Maryam?Who is this, Maryam?
- مریم Maryamدا زما انا ده.Da zma ana da.This is my grandmother.
- احمد Ahmedهغه ډیره ښکلا ده.Hagha dera shkla da.She is very beautiful.
- مریم Maryamهو، هغه ډیره مینه ناکه ده.Ho, hagha dera mina naka da.Yes, she is very loving.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries انا, نيا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
