grandmother/grandma/grannny/gran... grandfather/grandad...

[GeneD]

Which home names for "grandmother" and "grandfather" are used in modern English? Are "granny/grandma/gran" equally common and used interchangeably? And are there any variations for "grandad"?

 

[emsr2d2]

There are plenty of variations and they differ even between families, let alone regions.

I knew all four of my grandparents and three of my great-grandparents and I called them:

- Jo and Des (my mum's parents) - those were their first names, also used by my mum and her two sisters, who didn't use "mum/dad"
- Gran and Pete (my dad's parents) - I have absolutely no idea why it wasn't "Gran and Granddad" or "Phyllis/Phyl and Pete" (their actual names).
- Nan and Pop (my mum's maternal grandparents) - I think I just copied what my mum called them.
- Nana Trumble - (my mum's paternal grandmother) - again, I just copied what my mum called her.

So, as you can see, within my family, the terms "nana", "nan" and "gran" were used, as well as actual names.

 

[emsr2d2]

I have heard "Granddad", "Grandpa", "Gramps" and "Pop/Poppa" used for grandfathers, although the latter seems to be usable for father, grandfather or great-grandfather.

 

[GoesStation]

Grandma and Grandpa (pronounced "grampa") are common in the US. In Appalachia and places with Appalachian heritage, great-grandparents are often called Ma-maw and Pa-paw, with emphasis on the first vowel, which is the first vowel in "apple".

I think Granddad may be fairly widespread, too.