ย่า
paternal grandmother
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 paternal grandmother、Grandma [father's mother]
This is the everyday kinship term for one’s father’s mother. It can also be used to address one’s paternal grandmother directly.
paternal grandmother、Grandma [father's mother]
It refers specifically to one’s father’s mother and is also used when speaking directly to her.
-
ย่าทำอาหารอร่อยมาก yâa tham aahǎan àrɔ̀ɔy mâak Grandma’s cooking is delicious. ย่าทำอาหารอร่อยมาก details
Learning notes
Explanation
Thai uses different grandparent terms for the paternal and maternal sides of the family. ย่า is the mother of one’s พ่อ (“father”), so it specifically means a paternal grandmother. It functions both as a noun for talking about this relative and as a form of address meaning “Grandma.” Family members commonly use ย่า by itself, while คุณย่า adds explicit respect. The general classifier for people is คน, though this relative is rarely counted in ordinary conversation.
Usage
It is used when describing family relationships, talking about one’s father’s mother, or discussing visits and activities involving her. Within the family, it is also commonly used in place of her name when addressing her directly.
Caution
Unlike the general English word “grandmother,” ย่า identifies the paternal side specifically; ยาย is used for a maternal grandmother. It is not the standard term for any elderly woman. Do not confuse it with อย่า (“don’t”) or หญ้า (“grass”).