סבתא רבתא
savta rabta
The Hebrew phrase for "great grandmother" is סבתא רבתא (savta rabta).
This phrase is used to refer to the mother of one's grandmother or grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
savta rabta
Did you know?
- The word סבתא is actually an Aramaic loanword used in Hebrew. While most Hebrew words for family are native, this one reflects the historical influence of Aramaic on the language.
- The word רבתא functions as an intensifier meaning 'great' or 'grand'. It is a classic Aramaic form that survived in the Hebrew lexicon to denote higher degrees in family lineages.
- While סבתא רבתא is the formal term, some families use the slang term סב-סבתא to describe a great grandmother.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries סבתא, CC BY-SA 4.0.
