nonna
/ˈnɔn.na/
nonna is the Italian way to say nana.
nonna is an informal term used to refer to a grandmother.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. It is pronounced /ˈnɔn.na/.
Did you know?
- In many parts of Italy, the word nonna is used as a term of endearment for any elderly woman, even if there is no biological relation.
- The word nonna originates from the Late Latin term nonna, which was already used in the transition from classical Latin to the Romance languages.
- While nonna is the standard, a child might use the even more rhythmic and baby-talk version nanna when being sleepy, though this actually means 'sleep' or 'bedtime' rather than grandmother.
Examples in context
- Ha già ringraziato la nonna per il regalo?Have you thanked Nana for the present yet?This sentence shows how to use nonna when thanking a grandmother for a gift.Tatoeba #13199070 by Guybrush88, translation #13156631 by sundown
- La mia nonna cucina molto bene.My grandmother cooks very well.
- Ho comprato un mazzo di fiori per la nonna.I bought a bouquet of flowers for grandma.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are talking about their family plans.
- FrancescoSofia, hai chiamato tua nonna oggi?Sofia, did you call your grandma today?
- SofiaSì, Francesco, le ho parlato stamattina.Yes, Francesco, I spoke to her this morning.
- FrancescoCosa ti ha detto?What did she tell you?
- SofiaMi ha detto che ci aspetta a cena.She told me that she is expecting us for dinner.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nonna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nonna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
