oma
/ˈoː.maː/
The Dutch phrase oma means grandmother.
oma is an informal and common way to refer to one's grandmother in Dutch.
Which one should you use?
The term opa is the counterpart used for grandfather, following a similar phonetic pattern. For an endearing version, you can use omaatje, which translates to 'little grandma' or 'dear grandma'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
oma is the informal standard. If you need to be formal, use the word grootmoeder.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Dutch province of Limburg, grootmoe is used as an alternative to oma.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈoː.maː/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word oma likely originated from the way young children mispronounce the formal term grootma.
- In Dutch culture, an oma is often associated with oma's koekjes, which are traditional homemade butter cookies often served with coffee.
- Dutch children may use the term oma for any elderly woman they are fond of, even if there is no biological relation.
Examples in context
- Dit is mijn grootmoeder, mevrouw de Vries.This is my grandmother, Mrs. De Vries.
- Hoe is het met oma?How is grandma?
- Ik ga dit weekend bij oma op bezoek.I'm going to visit grandma this weekend.
- Mijn oma bakte de lekkerste taart.My grandmother baked the most delicious cake.
- Ik ga morgen naar mijn oma.I am going to my grandmother's tomorrow.
- Heeft oma een nieuwe hobby?Does grandma have a new hobby?
Example conversation
Noah and Lisa are looking at a family photo.
- NoahWie is deze vrouw op de foto?Who is this woman in the photo?
- LisaDat is mijn oma, Noah.That is my grandma, Noah.
- NoahZe ziet er heel lief uit.She looks very sweet.
- LisaJa, ze is echt een lieve oma.Yes, she is really a sweet grandma.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry oma, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
