grandmother
grandmother
Pronunciation
grandmother
/ˈɡrænˌmʌðər/
Syllable Breakdown:
grand-: /ɡræn/
/ɡ/ - voiced velar stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
moth-: /mʌ/
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel
er: /ðər/ (or /ər/ in some non-rhotic accents)
/ð/ - voiced dental fricative (often omitted in rapid speech or certain accents)
/ər/ - r-colored vowel (schwa + r)
Word Form Variations
Singular: grandmother
Plural: grandmothers
Possessive (singular): grandmother's
Possessive (plural): grandmothers'
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The mother of one's father or mother; a female grandparent.
Synonyms: grandma, granny, nan, nana, grannie, grandam (archaic)
Antonyms: grandchild, grandson, granddaughter, great-grandchild
Definition: (Figurative) An older, often respected or influential, female figure who embodies wisdom, nurturing, or a connection to tradition. This usage can extend beyond familial ties.
Synonyms: matriarch, elder, doyenne, wise woman
Antonyms: youth, ingénue, novice
Examples of Use
Books:
"My grandmother used to tell me stories about growing up during the Depression, and they always had a lesson hidden within them." (Based on a common theme in memoirs or historical fiction)
"In Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, Ursula Buendía, the family's enduring grandmother figure, is a powerful and central character." (Literary analysis/criticism)
Newspapers:
"Local grandmother celebrates 100th birthday with community, sharing tales of her long and fulfilling life." (Headline from a local newspaper, e.g., The Daily Chronicle)
"The article highlighted how the new policy would particularly benefit single grandmothers raising their grandchildren." (News report on social policy, e.g., The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Ten reasons why your grandmother's advice about money is still relevant today." (Personal finance blog post, e.g., Forbes.com)
"Travel guide: Exploring the charming village my grandmother called home in the Italian countryside." (Travel blog, e.g., LonelyPlanet.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Drama): "I wish my grandmother were here to see me graduate." (Dialogue from a TV show like This Is Us or Grey's Anatomy)
Film (Comedy): "My grandmother always said, 'A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,' but she clearly never tasted this." (Line from a movie, e.g., Paddington 2)
Music (Song Lyrics): "And I remember my grandmother's voice, singing lullabies in the evening light." (Lyric from a folk or country song, e.g., Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors")
Video Games: (Character dialogue) "My grandmother taught me this ancient spell. It's powerful, but comes at a cost." (RPG game, e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we delve into the culinary traditions passed down through generations, focusing on the recipes of our hosts' grandmothers." (Food or cultural podcast, e.g., The Sporkful)
Social Media (Instagram/TikTok): (Caption on a photo/video) "Making my grandmother's famous apple pie. So many memories in every bite! #familyrecipes #grandma." (User-generated content)
General Public Discourse:
"When I was a kid, my grandmother would always bake me cookies when I visited." (Casual conversation)
"She has that classic grandmotherly warmth about her." (Descriptive comment about a person's demeanor)
"My grandmother always told me to save for a rainy day." (Common idiom/advice sharing)
"The quilt on the bed was made by her grandmother." (Describing an heirloom or cherished item)
10 Famous Quotes Using Grandmother
"A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend." (Unknown)
"What a grandmother hears in the whisper of the wind is a story of her own children." (Proverb)
"I did not want to be a reclusive writer, but I found myself, after a time, living a very solitary existence. I became a grandmother, and that was the turning point." (Toni Morrison)
"My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the heck she is." (Ellen DeGeneres)
"A grandmother's heart is a garden of love." (Unknown)
"Every grandmother has a memory box, filled with treasures and stories from generations past." (Lesser-known quote, often attributed to various authors)
"My grandmother always said, 'If you want to be happy, be.'" (Attributed to Leo Tolstoy, though often simplified from his broader philosophies)
"Grandmothers are the people who take delight in our every accomplishment and console us in every disappointment." (Lesser-known quote, often found in greeting cards)
"You are the grandmother of the universe, and all life is born from your embrace." (Metaphorical/poetic, drawing on themes of creation and maternal figures)
"The wisdom of a grandmother is a guiding star." (Original quote, reflecting a common sentiment)
Etymology
The word "grandmother" is a pretty straightforward one in terms of its origin. It's essentially a combination of two older words: "grand" and "mother."
Back in the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500), people started using "grand-" as a prefix to mean "one generation older than." This idea likely came from the French word "grand-mère," which literally means "great mother" or "big mother." So, the English just copied that style.
Before "grandmother" came along, people in Old English used terms like "eldemodor," which literally meant "old mother." But the French way of saying it caught on and became the common term.
The first known use of "grandmother" in written English dates back to 1424. It was used to describe the mother of a parent, which is the same meaning we use today. It seems to have appeared in a will, where it was used in the phrase "grauntmoderles," meaning "grandmother-less." This shows that even back then, the word was used in the same family context as it is now.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Grandmother
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "grandmother" or its synonyms for similar effect:
Like your grandmother used to make: Refers to food that is traditional, comforting, and often implies homemade quality.
A grandmother's touch: Denotes a gentle, nurturing, and often wise influence or way of doing things.
Grandmother knows best: Implies that an older, experienced female relative has superior wisdom or advice.
To spoil like a grandmother: To excessively indulge or pamper someone, often a grandchild.
From your grandmother's era: Used to describe something old-fashioned, traditional, or from a past generation.
As comforting as a grandmother's hug: Describes something extremely soothing or reassuring.
To have a granny's eye for detail: (Using synonym "granny") To be very meticulous and notice small things.
Old as my great-grandmother's rocking chair: (Original, using extended family context) Describes something very old or antique.
A grandmother's wisdom tooth: (Original, metaphorical) Refers to a piece of very insightful or hard-earned advice.
Living the grandma life: (Informal, original) Describes a relaxed, perhaps home-focused lifestyle, often involving hobbies like baking or gardening.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of grandmother from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
