جدة كبرى
jaddah kubra
The Arabic phrase for "great grandmother" is جدة كبرى (jaddah kubra).
جدة كبرى is used to refer to the mother of a person's grandmother or grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
jaddah kubra
Did you know?
- The word جدة is a verbal noun related to the Arabic verb meaning 'to be new', creating a strange linguistic connection between 'grandmother' and 'newness'.
- The word جدة in جدة كبرى can also refer to the famous Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah, which is often spelled in English as 'Jeddah'.
- Because Arabic focuses heavily on lineage, it is common to specify whether a جدة كبرى is from the father's side or the mother's side in conversation.
Example conversation
Leila and Youssef are looking at an old family photo.
- ليلى Laylaمن هذه المرأة في الصورة يا يوسف؟Man hādhihi al-marʾa fī al-ṣūra yā Yūsuf?Who is this woman in the photo, Youssef?
- يوسف Youssefإنها جدة كبرى العائلة.Innahā jadda kubrā al-ʿāʾila.She is the family's great grandmother.
- ليلى Laylaتبدو جميلة جدًا.Tabdū jamīla jiddan.She looks very beautiful.
- يوسف Youssefنعم، كانت حكيمة للغاية.Naʿam, kānat ḥakīma lil-ghāya.Yes, she was extremely wise.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries جدة, CC BY-SA 4.0.
