cụ bà
The phrase for great grandma in Vietnamese is cụ bà.
cụ bà refers to the mother of one's grandmother or grandfather. In many Vietnamese families, children may simply address their great-grandparents as cụ rather than the full cụ bà or cụ ông.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cụ refers to a great-grandparent or a person of much higher seniority than a grandparent.
Which one should you use?
cụ bà is used specifically for a female great-grandparent, whereas cụ ông would be used for a male great-grandparent.
Did you know?
- The word cụ is a non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese character for 'deceased' or 'late'.
- The term cụ bà is used for both the maternal and paternal great-grandmother, ignoring the distinction between the two sides of the family.
- While bà refers to a grandmother, in some contexts it can also be used to address an elderly woman of high status, similar to 'Lady'.
Examples in context
- Cụ bà kể rất nhiều chuyện ngày xưa.The great grandma tells many stories about the old days.
Example conversation
Nam and Mai are looking at an old family photo.
- NamMai nhìn xem, đây là cụ bà của anh.Mai look, this is my great grandma.
- MaiCụ bà trông thật hiền hậu.Great grandma looks very gentle.
- NamVâng, cụ bà là người tuyệt vời nhất.Yes, she is the most wonderful person.
- MaiAnh thật may mắn khi có cụ bà.You are very lucky to have a great grandma.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bà, cụ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
