Why do people say Oma?
Germany: Oma is one of the most popular international names for grandmothers and is often used to address grandmothers with no German heritage. Greece: Maybe because it just sounds joyful, the Greek YaYa is a popular grandmother nickname. It's sometimes hyphenated and sometimes rendered as YiaYia.
Oma and Opa are familiar names given to a grandparents in German. Oma is used for grandmother (die Großmutter) and Opa for grandfather (der Großvater). Being a West Germanic language, Dutch uses them in the same way. Korean has similar sounding words, but for mother, father, and older brother.
“Oma” in German is the equivalent to “granny” in the English language. It's a less formal term of endearment. You may also hear it fairly often in other parts of the world because it's easy for youngsters to pronounce.
Noun. oma f (plural omans) mother.
gran [noun] (British, informal) grandmother.
grandmother, the ~ Noun. granny, the ~ Noun. grandma, the ~ Noun.
Yaya. Yaya is the word for grandmother in Greek.
pronoun. you(slang, male term, abbreviation)
- Abba.
- Birdy.
- Bunny.
- Gaga.
- Gigi.
- Kitty.
- Mimi.
- Minnie.
ouma in British English
(ˈəʊmɑː ) noun South Africa. 1. grandmother, esp in titular use with surname. slang.
Which countries use Oma?
Oma is the name for a German grandmother.
-oma (wpa), constitute a genuine Greek suffix and that the combination properly. means growth or tumor. We shall show that the true suffix is -ma (na) which. means the result or effect of an action. In ancient Greek -ma was a common suffix attached to verb stems to form.

• Oma. → mamie. ↔ grandma. • Oma. → aïeulegrand-mère.
Some examples include adenoma, atheroma, carcinoma, condyloma, fibroma, glaucoma, glioma, granuloma, hemangioma, hematoma, lipoma, lymphoma, melanoma, meningioma, myeloma, neuroblastoma, neuroma, papilloma, retinoblastoma, sarcoma, and xanthoma.
Just like we have grandfather and grandpa in English, this is one of the more informal versions in French. Opa and oma originated in Germany, but they're cute enough to use just about anywhere.
Oma. The German word "großmutter" translates to "grandmother." But the short and sweet "Oma" is a common nickname for a female grandparent.
Names for Grandma in German
The most common name the Germans use when they address their grandmothers is (die) Oma.
Ireland (Gaelic)
While maimeó anddaideó are the words used to address a grandmother or grandfather, there are a few different words for grandparents in Irish. For example, there are máthair chríona, which translates to “wise mother,” and athair críonna which translates to “wise father.”
Another popular subset of unique names are those that are derived from the (most often) grandmother's first name. So Gabby McCree is Gigi. “It's an abbreviation for 'Grandma Gabby' and also my initials growing up,” she says. (Her husband, Don, went with Pop Pop.)
The most popular southern grandmother names are Mamaw, Mawmaw, Memaw, Nana, and Mimi. Curious about our national findings? While Nana took the top spot, Grammy, Granny, Nanny, Mamaw, Mawmaw, Mimi, Grandmother, Memaw, and Abuela/Abuelita rounded out the top ten list.
Is Oma French?
...
noun.
From | To | Via |
---|---|---|
• oma | → aïeulegrand-mère | ↔ grandmother |
• oma | → mamiemémé | ↔ granny |
• oma | → grande-mère maternelle | ↔ maternal grandmother |
• oma | → grand-mère paternelle | ↔ paternal grandmother |
The suffix [-oma] means "tumor", "mass", or "growth". It should be noted that the word [tumor] is originally Latin, and means "swelling" or "bulging". Sometimes the plural form [-omata] can be used.
Oma Power Station is a cancelled 1,080-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in Abia State, Nigeria.
And if you live in the south, there's a good chance you call your grandmother Mamaw or Mawmaw—the most popular nickname in 7 states mostly in the south and along the Appalachians. Texas is the lone holdout for Mimi while folks in the Northeast prefer Grammie or Nana. But let's not forget the grandpas!
In Old English, the word was ealdemodor, which sounds a lot like “old mother,” and likely has roots in Old Norse. It was replaced by grandame, literally meaning “old lady,” due to the French influence over English.
Some of the names cited for grandmothers include Boo, Mimi and Nanan. For grandfathers such terms of endearment include Pa, Papa and Captain. People living in Cardiff and Plymouth are more likely to use a unique name for their grandfather and those in Nottingham, London and Leicester likewise for their grandmother.
They are from German. It's very common for German speakers to refer to their grandparents informally or affectionately as die Oma (grandmother) and der Opa (grandfather). The standard German words are Großmutter and Großvater.
Oma is the name for a German grandmother.
Opa and oma originated in Germany, but they're cute enough to use just about anywhere. Nonna or Nona is Italian for grandmother (did you ever read Strega Nona to your kids?), and the masculine version of that is simply Nonno. Call grandma Lolly and you've got a super-sweet combo.
Oma. The German word "großmutter" translates to "grandmother." But the short and sweet "Oma" is a common nickname for a female grandparent.
What does OMA mean in South Africa?
ouma in British English
(ˈəʊmɑː ) noun South Africa. 1. grandmother, esp in titular use with surname. slang.
Oma is the informal German name for grandmother or grandma. Grossmutter is the more formal term. Since there are several forms of Standard German, as well as a number of dialects, spellings, and pronunciations for the more formal term may differ. Oma is pronounced as it looks: Oh-ma.
The suffix [-oma] means "tumor", "mass", or "growth". It should be noted that the word [tumor] is originally Latin, and means "swelling" or "bulging". Sometimes the plural form [-omata] can be used.
The name Oma is primarily a male name of Arabic origin that means Giver Of Life.
Oman, country occupying the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula at the confluence of the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. Much of the country's interior falls within the sandy, treeless, and largely waterless region of the Arabian Peninsula known as the Rubʿ al-Khali.
In ancient Greek, "Yaya" meant literally "woman." Today, Greek grandmothers are called "Yaya," likely because they have achieved womanhood. In an Afro-Caribbean religious sect, found mostly in Brazil and the Congo, the word "Yaya" refers to a woman who has gone through a religious initiation.
...
noun.
From | To | Via |
---|---|---|
• oma | → aïeulegrand-mère | ↔ grandmother |
• oma | → mamiemémé | ↔ granny |
• oma | → grande-mère maternelle | ↔ maternal grandmother |
• oma | → grand-mère paternelle | ↔ paternal grandmother |
Noni. Mary Elizabeth Davis. A variation in the spelling of "Nonna," "Nonni" means grandparents in Italian.