Is there a French nickname for "grandmother?"
 

I can't find this through an online search. I know the formal version is grand-mere, but is there a shortened form or nickname for grandmothers? Such as, my husband's Cuban family's use of Nanna?

Meme, I think (both "e"s have acute accents, not available on my laptop)

Not a French grandmotherly nickname, but the "Nana" in my family had a good laugh when I told her "une nana" in French slang is a hot babe!


I wonder if that term is still being used. I learned it in the early 90's.

Memere (accent on first syllable)and mami (which is pronounced a bit like mommy but accent is on second syllable)

Please don't call a grand'ma "Memere" it's generally considered pejorative, like in 'eh, avance memere' (hey, come on oldie !) when you are stuck behind a car driving at 20 km/h when it could be 50.
"Mémé" or, even more "Mamie" are common. Grand-maman is a bit more sophisticated.

My grandmother was Mémère.
A granny is often referred to as a mémé.
Most children now call their grandmother mamie.
Same goes for grandfathers: pépère, pépé, and papy.

My mother who is a fairly contemporary grandmere is called memere by my sister's kids so it is still used. My young cousins call their grandparents mamie and papie and I do have a cousin that calls her grandmere nana despite the slang term. When it comes to terms of endearment anything goes it seems.

We always used Memere and Pepere. My grandkids call me Pepere and I certainly find nothing wrong with the term!!
I am from a French Canadian background, first generation American.

"Abuela" is used often in my area but this really is Spanish (or Catalan) for Grandmother.

I remember people using "Omah" but I'm not sure which language is being spoken. I think it means grandmother too.

Blackduff

Well, considering I called my grandparents Memere and pepere (the ere is pronounced as an "A") and that's what they wanted, I don't think it has any negative connotations. My parents are now the new generation Memere and Pepere

and omah I believe is german as my friend calls her german grandmother that

<i>The name Omah's is derived from the Malay word for Grandmother. At Omah's, or Grandmother's Restaurant</i>

http://www.omahs.com/

I think that you're correct about the German use but I can't find it YET.

Cheers

Blackduff (getting more confused than normal)

Meme is what is used by the Cajun part of my family.

Oma (or omi) are widely used in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Bonne maman &amp; bon papa are often used in the French speaking part of Belgium (and probably also in France).
M&eacute;m&eacute; and p&eacute;p&eacute; are a bit old fashioned, and replaced by mammy and pappy.

My mother-in-law, who is from Marseille, has the grandkids call her &quot;Mamie&quot;.

I knew I'd get lots of great answers on here!

Funny that oma was mentioned -- this whole question started because my mother said how much she likes the idea of being called that by future grandchildren. My husband and I responded that we don't see the logic since he's Cuban, and my family (including my mother) is French and Irish. My mom just likes the sound of oma, so we wanted to come up with a pleasant, possibly more fitting, alternative.

Whole subject is purely theoretical . . . there are no little Paucie's on the way any time soon. ;)

Paucie, that reminds me of my own mum. When we were little we used to go on vacation in Switzerland. Kids there often call their grandmother 'Mutti'. My mom then asked that if she were ever to have grandchildren, could they please call her Mutti ... which they do!

Sometimes it's cute to let the child decide on the nickname. We called our grandmother &quot;Mema&quot;. My kids called their grandmother &quot;Mana.&quot; Neither had a particular meaning, just baby words that stuck through the years...

Somewhere I heard that grandmother in German is &quot;Grossmutti.&quot; Can anyone confirm that? We used to tease my mother and say that was what our children would call her. Needless to say, &quot;Grossmutti&quot; didn't go over well!

I've never heard Grossmutti! Oma/Omi or Mutti are mostly used.