grandmother

• grand-mother (obsolete)

From Middle English graundmodre, grauntmoder, granmoder; equivalent to grand- +‎ mother. Compare French grand-mère. Superseded earlier eldmother, eldermother.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðə(r)/

  • Audio (UK):

    (file)

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹænˌmʌðə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: grand‧mo‧ther

grandmother (plural grandmothers)

1. A mother of someone's parent.
2. A female ancestor or progenitor.

• (mother of someone's parent): See Thesaurus:grandmother

• (antonym(s) of “with regard to gender”): grandfather
• (antonym(s) of “with regard to ancestry”): granddaughter, grandson, grandchild

• grandparent

• maternal grandmother
• paternal grandmother

• great-grandfather

Many languages use different terms for the mother of someone's father and the mother of someone's mother. When such a distinction is required in English, the phrases maternal grandmother (“mother of one's mother”) and paternal grandmother (“mother of one's father”) can be used. Specific translations can be added at those entries.