grandma

USAGE SUMMARY

"grandma" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone's grandmother either in a casual or formal setting. For example: "My grandma always makes the best chocolate chip cookies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Quote of the week: an indignant Omar on his blissfully ignorant grandma: "That woman think I work in a cafeteria – at the airport!" Murders: still on 50, but Prez does accidently kills another policeman – a distractingly overdramatic subplot for this point in the series?

The Guardian

Don't think grandma with her wicker shopping basket on the hunt for potato salad and Wiener schnitzel.

The Guardian - Travel

"Poor people can't afford to buy cheap things," my Grandma always used to say, and I think this is what Westwood is getting at.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was 15 when I had my first period, just like my mother, my aunties and my grandma.

The Guardian

"Shelley is my only biological child, but she and Cass and Maya always look out for each other and if I become infirm and need care, she's not going to be on her own thinking, 'I'm the only child.'" Plus, age has softened her: having been scornful of the word mum, she is very happy to be known as grandma.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I don't think Prince William would agree to hand me the award if he thought I had blown it in terms of performing as his grandma," she said.

The Guardian

There's something pleasing about the idea of dispensing with the usual cut-price cava in favour of dressing as Flash Gordon and topping up grandma as she listens to Carols from King's.

The Guardian - Opinion

He created a makeshift studio at home and started DJing at older people's weddings ("They paid more"), playing the northern soul and Motown tunes his mother listened to, "standing there watching my grandad make out with my grandma for six hours".

The Guardian - Music

Slim Charles yells: "I'm standing holding a torn-up church crown of a bona fide coloured lady" as a funeral service echoes behind him, while Omar himself seems to believe he could safely take his grandma to church every month because "ain't nobody in this city that low down to disrespect a Sunday morning".

The Guardian

There's zany grandma Kris.

The Guardian - Music

How can you discuss the trade-offs of health-care reform, for example, with someone who thinks the government is plotting to kill grandma?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grandma" in informal contexts to convey warmth and familiarity. In more formal settings, "grandmother" may be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "grandma" in formal writing, such as academic papers or business reports. "Grandmother" is more suitable for these contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "grandma" is a noun, serving as a familiar and affectionate term for one's grandmother. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grandma" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun that serves as an informal and affectionate term for grandmother. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for informal contexts, while "grandmother" is preferred in formal settings. Ludwig examples show the term's frequent use in news media and everyday conversation, conveying a sense of warmth and personal connection. Be mindful of your audience and writing context to choose the most appropriate term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

granny

A common and affectionate term similar to grandma.

nanna

A familiar and affectionate term, more common in British English.

nan

Another familiar and affectionate term, similar to nanna.

gran

A shortened, informal version of grandmother.

grandmom

A slightly less common, but still acceptable, alternative.

grandmother

A more formal and less affectionate term for grandma.

my maternal grandmother

Specifies that she is on your mother's side of the family.

my paternal grandmother

Specifies that she is on your father's side of the family.

elderly relative

Generic way of referring to a senior member of the family.

old woman

Referring to grandma in a sarcastic way.

FAQs

How do I use "grandma" in a sentence?

You can use "grandma" to refer to your grandmother in informal contexts. For example: "My "grandma" makes the best cookies."

What's the difference between "grandma" and "grandmother"?

"Grandma" is an informal and affectionate term, while "grandmother" is a more formal term for the same person.

What can I say instead of "grandma"?

You can use alternatives like "granny", "gran", "nanna", or "nan" depending on the context and your relationship with your grandmother.

Is it correct to say "my grandma and I" or "my grandma and me"?

The correct phrase depends on the grammatical role. Use "my "grandma" and I" when they are the subject of the sentence, and "my "grandma" and me" when they are the object.