nonnina
/nonˈni.na/
The English phrase "little grandma" is translated into Italian as nonnina.
nonnina is an affectionate term used to refer to one's grandmother.
Which one should you use?
nonnetta is also used informally to address a small and beloved grandmother.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nonnina is an affectionate, diminutive form used in informal or familial settings, whereas nonna is the standard term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of nonnina is nonnine.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /nonˈni.na/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The root 'nonna' is believed by some linguists to be related to the Latin 'annus', meaning 'year', hinting at the concept of someone who has seen many years.
- In Italy, the term nonnina is often used to address elderly women who are not actually related to the speaker as a sign of respect and tenderness.
- While nonnina is used for one's own grandmother, using it to address a stranger who is elderly can be seen as patronizing or overly familiar rather than sweet, depending on the region.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, carissima nonnina!Good morning, dearest little grandma!
- Nonnina, come stai oggi?Little grandma, how are you today?
- Ho preparato la tua torta preferita, nonnetta!I made your favorite cake, little grandma!
- La mia nonnina è molto dolce.My little grandma is very sweet.
- Ho comprato un regalo per la nonnina.I bought a gift for little grandma.
- Vuoi venire a trovare la nonnina?Do you want to go visit little grandma?
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are talking on the phone about a family visit.
- AlessandroCiao Chiara, andiamo a trovare la nonnina oggi?Hi Chiara, are we going to visit little grandma today?
- ChiaraSì, la nostra nonnina è molto contenta di vederci.Yes, our little grandma is very happy to see us.
- AlessandroPortiamo dei fiori per la nonnina?Shall we bring some flowers for little grandma?
- ChiaraOttima idea, le piaceranno molto.Great idea, she will like them a lot.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nonnina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nonnina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
