mam-gu
/mamˈɡɨː/South Wales, feminine
The Welsh word for grandmother is mam-gu or nain.
Meaning: mother of someone's parent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Welsh | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mam-gu | /mamˈɡɨː/ (North Wales) /mamˈɡiː/ (South Wales, colloquial, standard) |
South Wales, feminine |
| nain | /nai̯n/ | North Wales, feminine |
Both words are feminine nouns used to refer to the mother of one's parent.
Which one should you use?
mam-gu and nain are used in different parts of Wales. Use mam-gu for the southern dialect and nain for the northern dialect.
Is it said differently in some regions?
mam-gu is primarily used in South Wales, while nain is the form used in North Wales.
How do you pronounce it?
/mamˈɡɨː/
Did you know?
- The northern term nain shares a deep-rooted linguistic connection with the Ancient Greek word nánna, both of which are thought to mimic the sounds a small child makes.
- The word cu in mam-gu means 'beloved' and appears in many traditional Welsh expressions of love and affection.
- Because Welsh has a distinct north and south dialect, families with relatives in both regions may use both nain and mam-gu within the same household.
Examples in context
- Mae fy mam-gu yn dod o Aberystwyth.My grandmother comes from Aberystwyth.
- Roedd y mam-gu yn gwneud teisen.The grandmother was making a cake.
- Sut mae dy mam-gu?How is your grandmother?
Example conversation
Rhys and Catrin are looking at an old family photo.
- RhysPwy yw'r dyn hwn, Catrin?Who is this man, Catrin?
- CatrinMae hwn yn tad fy mam-gu.This is my grandmother's father.
- RhysMae ef yn edrych yn ifanc.He looks young.
- CatrinDo, roedd mam-gu yn ei garu.Yes, grandmother loved him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandmother” translations and entries mam-gu, nain, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mam-gu, nain, CC BY-SA 4.0.
