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"grandmother" in seven languages

Meaninggrandmother

Spanish

abuela

/aˈbwela/

fem.other source · Vulgar Latin *AVIOLAM, diminutive of AVIA 'grandmother'

French

grand-mère

/gʁɑ̃mɛʁ/

fem.other source · grand 'great' + mère (Latin MĀTREM)

Italian

nonna

/ˈnɔnna/

fem.other source · Late Latin NONNA, a nursery word

Portuguese

avó

/aˈvɔ/

fem.other source · spoken Latin *AVIOLAM (from AVIA)

Only the vowel tells them apart: avô [o] grandfather, avó [ɔ] grandmother.

Romanian

bunică

/buˈnikə/

fem.other source · bun 'good' (Latin BONUM) + the suffix -ică

Catalan

àvia

/ˈabiə/

fem.other source · Latin AVIAM 'grandmother'

English

grandmother

/ˈgɹænmʌðɚ/

other source · Anglo-French grand- + Old English mōdor

English → ItaliangrandmothernonnaNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh.What English and Italian share

The story

The same three strategies as for grandfather. Note grand-mère, not *grande-mère: Latin GRANDIS had one form for both genders, and Old French grand kept it (as in grand-rue).

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In a sentence

  • esMi abuela hace la mejor sopa.
  • frMa grand-mère fait la meilleure soupe.
  • itMia nonna fa la zuppa più buona.
  • ptMinha avó faz a melhor sopa.
  • roBunica mea face cea mai bună supă.
  • caLa meva àvia fa la millor sopa.
  • enMy grandmother makes the best soup.

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