прабабушка
prababushka
The English phrase "great grandma" is translated into Russian as прабабушка (prababushka).
The term is used to refer to the mother of one's grandmother or grandfather.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the prefix пра-, which means "great" or "extra" in a genealogical sense and бабушка, meaning "grandmother".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of прабабушка is прабабушки. If you are giving something to a great-grandmother, you should use the dative case form прабабушке.
How do you pronounce it?
prababushka
Did you know?
- While бабушка means 'grandmother', it is also the common Russian word for a 'babushka' headscarf, though the scarf is actually named after the woman who wears it.
- The prefix пра- can be stacked indefinitely to describe distant ancestors, such as прапрабабушка for a great-great-grandmother or прапрапрабабушка for a great-great-great-grandmother.
- The prefix пра- in прабабушка is also used to refer to 'ancient' or 'ancestral' things, such as an 'ancestral' village or 'ancient' laws.
Examples in context
- Прабабушка Пола написала много книг.Paul's great-grandma has written many books.The first sentence is useful for showing how to use прабабушка to identify a specific person.Tatoeba #8925364 by DemonicSatori, translation #8873683 by sundown
- Прабабушка – бесспорный матриарх нашей семьи.Great-Grandma is the undisputed matriarch of our family.The second sentence is useful for showing how прабабушка can be used as a title or a description of a person's role in a family.Tatoeba #4318406 by soniamiku, translation #3661267 by Vanilla
- Дорогая прабабушка, как вы себя чувствуете?Dear prababushka, how are you feeling?
- Моя прабабушка жила в этом городе.Moya prababushka zhila v etom gorode.My great grandma lived in this city.
Example conversation
Olga and Dmitry are looking at an old family photo album.
- Ольга OlgaЭта женщина моя прабабушка?Eta zhenshchina moya prababushka?Is this woman my great grandma?
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, Ольга, это она.Da, Ol'ga, eto ona.Yes, Olga, it is her.
- Ольга OlgaОна выглядит очень красивой.Ona vyglyadit ochen' krasivoy.She looks very beautiful.
- Дмитрий DmitryОна была настоящая красавица.Ona byla nastoyashchaya krasavitsa.She was a real beauty.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
