nanna
feminine
The Sicilian word for grandmother is nanna. Wiktionary also lists mamma granni.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Sicilian | Note |
|---|---|
| nanna | feminine |
| mamma granni | feminine |
Both nanna and mamma granni are used to refer to the mother of one's parent.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, mamma granni is a more descriptive way to express the relationship.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both nanna and mamma granni are feminine nouns.
Did you know?
- The Sicilian nanna shares a linguistic lineage with the Sanskrit word nanā, which also means 'mother'.
- The term mamma granni literally describes the grandmother as a 'big mother', reflecting a hierarchical view of family elders.
- The phonetic repetition in nanna is a common cross-linguistic pattern where the easiest sounds for infants to make become the names for their primary caregivers.
Examples in context
- A nanna prepara a pasta.Grandmother is making the pasta.
Example conversation
Antonio and Agata are talking about their family.
- AntonioUnni è a nanna toia?Where is your grandmother?
- AgataA nanna è a casa sua.Grandmother is at her house.
- AntonioChiu fari un giru cu lei?Should we take a walk with her?
- AgataSì, a nanna sarà cuntenta.Yes, grandmother will be happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries nanna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries granni, nanna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
