Opa
/ˈoːpʰa/masculine
The German phrase for grandpa is Opa. Wiktionary also lists Opi.
Meaning: grandfather (informal) (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Opa | /ˈoːpʰa/ (standard) /ˈɔpʰa/ (German, Western) |
masculine |
| Opi | /ˈoːpi/ | masculine |
Opa is the common, informal way to say grandpa. It is a masculine noun.
Which one should you use?
While Opa is the standard informal term, Opi is a diminutive form. Opi is even more affectionate than Opa and is often used by very young children.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In a formal context, you would use Großvater for grandfather. For everyday, informal situations, use Opa. Opi is reserved for very high levels of affection or for use by small children.
How does it change in a sentence?
To show possession, such as saying grandpa's, you can add an -s to the word to form Opas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈoːpʰa/
Did you know?
- In historical German contexts, children were often expected to address their Großvater using the formal pronoun Sie instead of the informal du.
- German has no single word for a 'great-grandfather' that is as common as Opa, so people often say Uropa by adding the prefix 'Ur-'.
- While Opa is the standard informal term, some German families use Großpapa as a middle ground between the formal Großvater and the very casual Opa.
Examples in context
- Wo lebt dein Opa?Where does your grandpa live?This sentence is useful for asking about the residence of a grandpa using Opa.Tatoeba #1096738 by Esperantostern, translation #394891 by Dorenda
- Mein Opa war Franzose.My grandpa was French.This sentence is useful for describing a grandpa's nationality using Opa.Tatoeba #13306786 by Waldelfe, translation #10735799 by ddnktr
- Mein Opa war Walfänger.My grandpa was a whaler.This sentence is useful for describing a grandpa's former occupation using Opa.Tatoeba #8482976 by Luiaard, translation #8482977 by Luiaard
- Guten Tag, Großvater! Wie geht es Ihnen heute?Good day, grandpa! How are you today?
- Wir haben uns heute mit Großvater zum Mittagessen getroffen.We met with grandpa for lunch today.
- Hallo, Opa! Wie war dein Tag?Hello, grandpa! How was your day?
- Opa hat uns heute zum Eisessen eingeladen.Grandpa invited us for ice cream today.
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are looking at an old family photograph.
- FelixWer ist dieser Mann auf dem Foto?Who is this man in the photo?
- JuliaDas ist mein Opa.That is my grandpa.
- FelixEr sieht sehr nett aus.He looks very nice.
- JuliaJa, mein Opa ist wirklich lieb.Yes, my grandpa is really sweet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandpa” translations and entries Opa, Opi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
