tatarabuela
/tataɾabwela/from spelling rules
The English phrase "great great grandmother" is translated into Spanish as tatarabuela.
tatarabuela refers to the mother of one's great-grandmother.
Which one should you use?
While bisabuela is used for a great grandmother, tatarabuela is the specific term for the generation above her, which is the great great grandmother.
How does it change in a sentence?
tatarabuela is a feminine noun used specifically to refer to a female ancestor.
How do you pronounce it?
/tataɾabwela/
Did you know?
- If you want to refer to the generation above a tatarabuela, you do not add another 'tata' prefix. Instead, you move to the term trastatarabuela, which is much rarer in modern conversation.
- In some regions, the prefix tata is also used as a childish or affectionate term for 'grandfather'. This creates a linguistic curiosity where tata can mean both a very distant ancestor and a very close, endearing relationship.
- Depending on the region, using tatarabuela to describe a living person can be seen as a social faux pas or a sharp jab at their age rather than a family description.
Examples in context
- La madre de mi abuela es mi "bisabuela," ¿Así que la madre de mi bisabuela es mi "tatarabuela"? ¿Verdad?My grandmother's mother is my "great grandmother," so my great grandmother's mother is my "great great grandmother"? Is that right?This sentence is useful for illustrating the generational relationship between a grandmother, a great grandmother and a tatarabuela.Tatoeba #2847370 by cueyayotl, translation #1487831 by marshmallowcat
- Mi tatarabuela nació en 1895.My great great grandmother was born in 1895.
- La casa en la playa perteneció a mi tatarabuela paterna.The beach house belonged to my great great grandmother on my father's side.
- Mi tatarabuelita me contaba historias maravillosas.My great great grandmother used to tell me wonderful stories.
- Mi tatarabuela era de un pueblo muy pequeño.My great great grandmother was from a very small town.
- Tengo una foto antigua de mi tatarabuela.I have an old photo of my great great grandmother.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking at old family photographs.
- Alejandro¿Quién es la mujer de esta foto?Who is the woman in this photo?
- LucíaElla es mi tatarabuela, Lucía.She is my great great grandmother, Lucía.
- Alejandro¡Se ve muy joven!She looks very young!
- LucíaSí, tenía veinte años aquí.Yes, she was twenty years old here.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
