Hindi · People & Family

"Grandmother" in Hindi: दादी

दादीdaadi

Say it: DAA-difeminine noun/d̪ɑːd̪iː/

Note: maternal: नानी (naani)

Grandmother in Hindi is दादी (daadi) for your father's mother. Your mother's mother is नानी (naani). Both are feminine and take ji for respect: daadi ji.

Phone call

दादी जी, आप कैसे हैं?

daadi ji, aap kaise hain?

Grandmother, how are you?
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How to pronounce दादी

Say it

DAA-di

/d̪ɑːd̪iː/

Daadi is DAA-di with long aa and long final i written as i. Soft dental d. Naani mirrors the rhythm: NAA-ni.

"Grandmother" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
दादीdaadipaternal grandmother

Father's mother.

नानीnaanimaternal grandmother

Mother's mother.

दादी जीdaadi jigrandmother (respectful)

Warm address.

ग्रैंडमदरgrandmothergrandmother

English in some homes.

How to use दादी in real life

  1. 1Phone call

    दादी जी, आप कैसे हैं?

    daadi ji, aap kaise hain?

    Grandmother, how are you?

    Respectful opening.

  2. 2Family intro

    ये मेरी दादी हैं, दिल्ली में रहती हैं।

    ye meri daadi hain, Dilli mein rahti hain.

    This is my grandmother — she lives in Delhi.

    Introduction.

  3. 3Kitchen memory

    दादी के हाथ का खाना याद आता है।

    daadi ke haath ka khaana yaad aata hai.

    I miss grandmother's home cooking.

    Affectionate talk.

Mistakes English speakers make with दादी

Incorrect: Using daadi for mother's mother

Correct: नानी (naani) for maternal grandmother

The daadi/naani split matters in Hindi families.

Incorrect: Dropping ji with elders always

Correct: Daadi ji is warmer and safer

Respect markers help.

Good to know

Daadi and naani often anchor festivals, stories, and recipes. Touching feet as greeting still happens in many homes. If unsure which side, ask pitaji ki mummy or mummy ki mummy rather than guessing wrong.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Video-calling family from abroad

  1. ChatPal

    दादी जी को स्क्रीन पर लाइए ज़रा।

    daadi ji ko screen par laaiye zara.

    Please bring grandmother onto the screen a moment.

  2. You

    दादी जी, नमस्ते! आपकी तबियत कैसी है?

    daadi ji, namaste! aapki tabiyat kaisi hai?

    Grandmother, hello! How is your health?

  3. ChatPal

    दादी कह रही हैं आपको बहुत याद करती हैं।

    daadi keh rahi hain aapko bahut yaad karti hain.

    Grandmother says she misses you a lot.

  4. You

    मैं भी दादी को बहुत याद करता हूँ।

    main bhi daadi ko bahut yaad karta hoon.

    I miss grandmother a lot too.

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"Grandmother" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Grandmother" in Hindi

Daadi vs naani?

Daadi is paternal; naani is maternal.

Great-grandmother?

Paradaadi / paranaani.

How to address her?

Daadi ji / naani ji.

Grandfather?

Daada (paternal) / naana (maternal).

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