ਦਾਦੀ
dādī
The Punjabi word for grandmother is ਦਾਦੀ (dādī).
ਦਾਦੀ is used to refer to a grandmother on the father's side of the family.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ਦਾਦੀ specifically refers to a paternal grandmother, the word ਨਾਨੀ (nānī) is used to refer to a maternal grandmother.
How do you pronounce it?
dādī
Did you know?
- Because the distinction between ਦਾਦੀ and ਨਾਨੀ is so sharp, calling the wrong grandmother by the wrong title can sometimes be seen as a sign of poor upbringing or lack of respect for one's roots.
- In traditional Punjabi households, the ਦਾਦੀ historically held the primary authority over the kitchen and the raising of grandchildren within the joint family system.
- The word ਦਾਦੀ is inherited from the ancient Prakrit word *𑀤𑀸𑀤𑁆𑀤 (*dādda).
Example conversation
Herman and Kiran are talking about family members in the living room.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਦਾਦੀ ਵੀ ਇੱਥੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ?kī tuhāḍī dādī vī ithē rahindī hai?Does your grandmother also live here?
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਹਾਂ, ਮੇਰੀ ਦਾਦੀ ਅਕਸਰ ਇੱਥੇ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ।hāṁ, mērī dādī akasa ithē ā'undī hai.Yes, my grandmother often comes here.
- ਹਰਮਨ Hermanਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗੇ ਖਾਣੇ ਬਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਹਨ।ōha bahut canagē khāṇē banā'undē hana.She makes very good food.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਹਾਂ, ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਿਆਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ।hāṁ, ōha bahut pi'āra karadē hana.Yes, she is very loving.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਦਾਦੀ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
