opa
The English phrase "grandpa" is translated into Dutch as opa.
opa is the most common way to say "grandpa" in Dutch. It is used to refer to a grandfather in a casual and affectionate manner.
Meaning: grandfather (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While opa is the informal and affectionate term, the word grootvader is used for the formal term "grandfather".
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural "grandpas", you add an -s to the end of the word to get opa's. You can also use the diminutive form opaatje to express endearment, which translates to "little grandpa".
Did you know?
- The plural form opa's uses an apostrophe before the 's', which is a specific spelling rule in Dutch used to avoid confusion with words ending in certain vowels.
- The diminutive opaatje is not just for 'little' grandfathers in size, but can be used to describe a grandfather who has a particularly sweet or fragile disposition.
- In some Dutch families, the word opa is used as a name for a grandfather even if the child has two, often adding a qualifier like opa Jan to tell them apart.
Examples in context
- Mijn opa is dood.My grandpa is dead.This sentence shows how to use opa when talking about a grandfather who has passed away.Tatoeba #8466472 by MarijnKp, translation #8999582 by mccarras
- Waar woont je opa?Where does your grandpa live?This sentence is a way to ask about the residence of one's opa.Tatoeba #394890 by Dorenda, translation #394891 by Dorenda
- Hoe oud is je opa?How old is your grandpa?This sentence is useful for asking about the age of one's opa.Tatoeba #4516470 by Raizin, translation #5101964 by Airvian
- Meneer van der Berg, mag ik u voorstellen aan mijn grootvader?Mr. van der Berg, may I introduce you to my grandfather?
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Levi are talking about a photo in a book.
- JuliaIs dat je opa op de foto?Is that your grandpa in the photo?
- LeviJa, dat is mijn opa.Yes, that is my grandpa.
- JuliaWat een leuke opa is hij!What a nice grandpa he is!
- LeviDank je, hij is erg aardig.Thank you, he is very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandpa” translations and entries opa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
