KalamGrandma in Arabic
The standard Arabic word for grandmother is جدة (jadda), and "my grandma" is جدتي (jaddatī). At home, families use warmer words: تيتة (tēta) in Egypt, تيتا (tēta) or ستي (sitti) in the Levant, يدّه (yadda) in Kuwait and nearby Gulf areas, and حنّا (ḥanna) in Morocco.
Literally: “grandmother”
Grandma across the Arab world
Arabic changes from country to country. Here's what you'll actually hear.
The formal word, used in writing and when talking about grandparents in general.
What Egyptian kids call grandma. When talking about her, gedditi (جدتي, "my grandmother").
Levantineتيتا / ستيtēta / sittiTēta is everywhere in Lebanon and Syria. Sitti (lit. "my lady") is traditional, especially in Palestine and Jordan.
Gulfيدّه / جدتيyadda / jaddatiYadda is Kuwaiti, Bahraini and eastern Saudi, where ج sounds like y. Elsewhere in the Gulf you'll hear jadda.
Darijaحنّا / جدّةḥanna / jeddaMoroccan Darija. Ḥanna is the affectionate word grandchildren use.
Other ways to say grandma
How to respond
My life (how a grandma answers her grandkids)
Lit. "may you bury me," i.e. I love you more than life (Levantine; to a girl: taʾburīni)
Yes, my dear? (to a girl: ya ḥabībti)
How to say it right
The sounds English speakers find tricky, and how to get them right.
Practise with feedbackTēta has a long "eh" vowel: TAY-ta, not "TEE-ta" or "TET-ta."
In sitti the t is doubled: SIT-ti. Hold the t for a beat.
Jadda has a doubled d: JAD-da. In Egypt the ج is a hard g (gedditi), and in Kuwait it becomes y (yadda).
The ḥ in Moroccan ḥanna is a strong breathy h from deep in the throat, like fogging up a mirror, but tighter.
Example sentences
Grandma, do you want anything from the market?
LevantineGrandma made stuffed vegetables today.
EgyptianGrandma, how are you?
GulfMy grandmother tells us beautiful stories.
Standard (MSA)Using it like a local
Grandma's house is often the center of Arab family life. Many families gather there every Friday for a big lunch, and holidays like Eid begin with a visit to the grandparents. Her cooking, from maḥshi to maqlūba, is usually legendary.
Showing respect to grandparents matters. Kissing a grandmother's hand or forehead, standing when she enters and serving her first at the table are common habits. Speaking to her bluntly or casually ignoring her can come across as rude.
Heritage learners often know only one word, teta or sitti, because that is what their family used. Both are right; they simply reflect where your family comes from. If you are unsure, tēta is widely understood across the Levant and Egypt.
Grandma: common questions
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What does teta mean in Arabic?
تيتا (tēta) means grandma. It is the most common everyday word in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt, where it is spelled تيتة. It is affectionate and informal, like "granny" or "nana."
What does sitti mean?
ستي (sitti) literally means "my lady" and is a traditional word for grandmother, especially in Palestinian and Jordanian families. It is warm and respectful, and many Palestinian Americans grew up calling their grandmother sitti.
Is it teta or sitti?
Both mean grandma. Tēta is more common in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt and in city families, while sitti is especially Palestinian and Jordanian and feels more traditional. Use whatever your family uses.
How do you say grandmother formally in Arabic?
The formal word is جدة (jadda), and "my grandmother" is جدتي (jaddatī). Use it in writing, school assignments or when talking about grandparents in general.
Don't just look it up. Say it.
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