祖母
sobo[so̞bo̞]
The Japanese phrase for "my grandmother" is 祖母 (sobo).
祖母 is used to refer to the mother of your father or mother when you are speaking to someone else about her. For a more specific and formal term used in legal or official contexts, you may encounter 外祖母, which specifically refers to a maternal grandmother.
Which one should you use?
While 祖母 is the standard term used when discussing your own grandmother with others, you should use おばあさん when you are addressing her directly or talking about someone else's grandmother. For an informal and affectionate way to refer to her or to address her, you can use おばあちゃん.
How do you pronounce it?
sobo
Did you know?
- In Japanese, referring to your own grandmother as おばあさん when speaking to a superior is a social faux pas, as you must use the humble 祖母 to lower your own family's status.
- The term おばあさん is so versatile that it is frequently used as a polite way to address any elderly woman on the street, even if she is a total stranger.
- The term 外祖母 specifically marks the maternal grandmother as being from the 'outside' of the traditional patriarchal family line.
Examples in context
- 私は祖母に育てられた。I was brought up by my grandmother.This sentence shows how to use 祖母 to indicate who brought you up.Tatoeba #155381 by bunbuku, translation #259157 by CK
- 私は祖母が大好きです。I love my grandmother very much.This sentence uses 祖母 to express affection for her.Tatoeba #155382 by bunbuku, translation #259156 by CK
- 祖母もすっかり歳をとった。My grandmother has got old.This sentence uses 祖母 to describe her aging.Tatoeba #140649 by bunbuku, translation #273924 by sundown
- 私の祖母はとても優しいです。My grandmother is very kind.
- 私の外祖母は教育者です。My maternal grandmother is an educator.
- おばあちゃん、元気ですか？Granny, how are you doing?
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are talking about their families.
- 陽太 Yota私の祖母は料理がとても上手です。Watashi no sobo wa ryōri ga totemo jōzu desu.My grandmother is very good at cooking.
- 陽葵 Himariそれはいいですね。どんな料理を作りますか？Sore wa ii desu ne. Donna ryōri o tsukurimasu ka?That's nice. What kind of dishes does she make?
- 陽太 Yota祖母は和食をよく作ってくれます。Sobo wa washoku o yoku tsukutte kuremasu.My grandmother often makes Japanese food for me.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太さんは幸せですね。Yōta-san wa shiawase desu ne.You are lucky, Yota.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 祖母, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
