British Slang For Grandmother (10 Examples!)

In Britain, the importance of staying close to your grandparents is a big deal for family life.

Not to suggest that this isn’t also the case in other countries, but I think it’s fair to say that the British have a unique relationship to their grandparents.

Unsurprisingly, then, countless slang terms have arisen in different areas to describe your grandmother.

Today, we’re going to look at some of the most common.

Let’s get started.

In This Article

Nan

Starting off we have nan, probably one of the most common slang terms for grandmother.

This one is mainly used in the north of England and in parts of Scotland, and while you will hear it further south, it is not the most common term in more southern parts of the country.

It can be used either for your maternal or paternal grandmother—it doesn’t matter which, though some report it is more commonly used for maternal.

It comes from the 18^th Century, when it was a characteristic name for a serving maid.

Since grandmothers often help in the raising of children, this association was born.

Nana

Next we have nana, or nanna, which is a variation of the slang term nan.

This is another one that is very commonly used across Britain, again mostly in regions further north.

This one is particularly used in the northwest, though you’ll also hear it across the north and in Scotland.

You’ll also hear this one in Wales.

Unsurprisingly, this is another variation of “nan”, and so it ultimately derives from the same root.

When it branched off to become nana is unclear, though it probably happened fairly soon after the adoption of “nan” meaning grandma.

Nanny

Next we have “nanny”, which, you guessed it, is yet another variation of “nan”.

This one is definitely a lot less common, and tends to be something that children use until they grow up and start using nan or nana.

That said, many do continue to say nanny until later on in life.

This one tends to be more used in the south of England, though again you will hear it anywhere to an extent.

Gran

Gran is another of the most common British slang terms for grandmother.

It is considered another childish abbreviation of the word grandmother, which would be used by young children and not adults.

However, today, it is certainly the case that people of any age use this term to refer to their grandmother.

It’s a simple term of endearment and is not considered childish in any broad sense.

It is quite an old term, though.

It’s simply a variation and shortening of grandmother, which admittedly a child struggling to form the whole word might use.

This use is attested as far back as 1863, so it likely predates this by some time.

Granny

Next we have granny.

Unsurprisingly, granny is very closely related to gran, and is the more childish variation of the word grandmother.

It can also be spelled grannie.

However, though it is taken as a variation of grandmother, it actually comes from the word grandmame.

This just means an old woman or grandmother.

This word is attested even as far back as the 1660s, so it’s an old one.

Mamgu

Next we move west to the Welsh slang for grandmother—mamgu.

This is by far the most common slang word for grandmother in Wales, though you really won’t hear it anywhere else in Britain.

It’s an endearing term used by children for their grandmothers. It’s mostly used in South Wales.

It is simply a Welsh term which roughly translates to “beloved mother”, and is an extremely old one in the Welsh language.

Nain

In North Wales, you may also hear people refer to their grandmother as “nain”.

This is closely related to “nan” as you might expect, though they are distinct words.

Nain is again a welsh Word, and used for grandmother.

It’s possible this one comes from Irish, though it is more likely that it is simply a cognate of the identical Irish word.

Grandma

It’s easy to forget, of course, that grandma itself is a slang term.

This one is very widely used across Britain, and particularly in the south of England.

Your grandma is your grandmother, just as that term is used in the U.S. and across the English speaking world.

Very often, you’ll have your “nan” and your grandma.

This word is first attested in 1793 as a shortening of grandmamma.

Grandmum

Next we have perhaps one of the rarer terms on this list, but nonetheless, one that is used in Britain for grandmother.

“Grandmum” is just another way to refer to your grandmother.

It is by no means terribly common in Britain, but is used in some parts of the country such as in the east of England.

This is simply a combination of “grandmother” and “mum”, and is first attested in the 19^th Century.

Seanmhair

Finally we have a Scottish Gaelic term, seanmhair.

This one is the term used to describe your grandmother, and has been taken on by many Scottish people who speak English as a slang term for their grandmother.

It’s a very old term, naturally, and there’s very little information to date this term on—but it is centuries old, at least.

So, from Wales through England to Scotland, there are many different ways that the British refer to their grandmothers.

Some are a lot more common than others, of course, but overall there is a wide spread across different words.

Whether you call your grandma your nan, your nana, you grandma or your granny, there is definitely no shortage of words for someone’s grandmother.

More in British Slang

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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