دادا
dādā/d̪ɑː.d̪ɑː/
The Urdu word for "grandpa" is دادا (dādā).
دادا is a noun used to refer to a grandfather. It specifically refers to the paternal grandfather. To make the term more respectful when addressing or speaking about a grandfather, you can use the polite form دادا جان.
Meaning: grandfather (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use دادا specifically for the paternal grandfather, whereas نانا is used for the maternal grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
dādā. The IPA is /d̪ɑː.d̪ɑː/.
Did you know?
- The word دادا is actually a nursery reduplication, meaning it started as a repetitive sound babies make before they can speak properly.
- In some Urdu speaking regions, دادا can be used as a term of respect or affection for any older man, even if there is no family relation.
- Urdu differentiates paternal and maternal grandparents through entirely different word roots, unlike many European languages that use the same root for both.
Examples in context
- میرے دادا بہت اچھے ہیں۔mere dada bohat achay hain.My grandpa is very good.
- دادا کہانی سنا رہے ہیں۔dada kahani suna rahay hain.Grandpa is telling a story.
- کیا دادا سو رہے ہیں؟kya dada so rahay hain?Is grandpa sleeping?
Example conversation
Hamza and Aisha are sitting in the living room.
- حمزہ Hamzaعائشہ، کیا دادا یہاں ہیں؟Aisha, kya dada yahan hain?Aisha, is grandpa here?
- عائشہ Ayeshaہاں، حمزہ، وہ باغ میں ہیں۔Han, Hamza, woh bagh mein hain.Yes, Hamza, he is in the garden.
- حمزہ Hamzaمجھے ان کے پاس جانا ہے۔Mujhe un kay paas jana hai.I want to go to him.
- عائشہ Ayeshaچلو، ہم مل کر چلتے ہیں۔Chalo, hum mil kar chaltay hain.Come on, let's go together.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry دادا, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries دادا, CC BY-SA 4.0.
