Grandmother in Greek
γιαγιά
yiayia — grandmother
Hear γιαγιά
Grandmother is γιαγιά (yiayia), stressed on the final syllable: ya-YA. It is one of the Greek words that has travelled abroad intact — Greek diaspora families from Melbourne to Chicago call their grandmother yiayia in the middle of English sentences, and spell it a dozen ways.
Alongside μαμά and μπαμπάς, it is among the first words Greek children say, and it stays in use for life; adults address any elderly woman warmly as γιαγιά in villages, not only their own grandmother. The pairing you will constantly hear is η γιαγιά και ο παππούς — grandma and grandad.
The γιαγιά occupies a particular cultural seat: keeper of recipes, enforcer of second helpings, and — in the standing joke every Greek recognises — convinced you are cold and underfed regardless of the evidence. Φάε, παιδί μου ("eat, my child") is her catchphrase.
Example sentences
Η γιαγιά μου μαγειρεύει πολύ καλά.
I yiayia mou mageirevei poli kala.
My grandmother cooks very well.
Πάμε στη γιαγιά την Κυριακή.
Pame sti yiayia tin Kiriaki.
We are going to grandma’s on Sunday.
Common questions
- Is it spelled yiayia, yaya, or yia yia?
- In Greek there is only one spelling: γιαγιά. The English variants (yiayia, yaya, ya-ya) are all attempts to romanise the same word; yiayia is the most common in diaspora writing.
Quick check
Pick the Greek word that matches.
How do you say "grandmother" in Greek?
Related words
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