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What are Russian Words for Grandma and Grandpa?

Question by Veronica: Russian words for grandma and grandpa?
I have heard babushka for grandmother and dédülya for grandfather, but I was looking for something more endearing. like in spanish, grandfather is abuelo but my grandfathers were Papa Leo and Pa Benja. and my grandmothers were Ma Candi and Mi Fina (my fina – short for josephine).

back to my question, are there any ‘cute/endearing’ names for grandpa and grandma in Russian?
I was also wondering, seeing how there really are only a few forms on how to say grandma and grandpa, would popop be acceptable for grandpa? Babu for grandma? I just want to make sure they don’t mean something offensive.

russian babushka
Photo Credit: M1key.me/Flickr

Answers and Views:

Answer by kotulenka
Not really. Babushka and dedushka are pretty much the only ones used. Everybody, of course, can embroider on those.

Answer by Rachel Kostrikin
My cousins and I have always called our grandparents Dieda and Babunya. We never had anything shorter to call our grandfather, however, our pronunciation was Deda, so you could say that was a more familiar and endearing way for us to refer to him.
We often called our grandmother Babuin and Bunya. Of all the many people that referred to her as Babunya, only those of us that were her actual grandchildren called her by these terms of endearment.

Answer by Viyka
I call my grandmother Babu for short, but I take after English and call my grandfather papa.

Answer by John Boldroff
Babunya and Dzyeda

Answer by RE
Bumbum for grandfather.

Answer by lekha
grandfather – ded
granpa – dEdushka, dEda
grandmother – bAbushka (bAbka – grossly, familiarly)
granma – bAbushka, babUlya

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Comments ( 4 )

  1. Anastasia says

    I always called my grandparents Baba and Deda.

    Reply
  2. Rachel Kostrikin says

    The comment has been moved into the body of the post.

    Reply
  3. Viyka says

    The comment has been moved into the body of the post.

    Reply
  4. ellakolesnikova says

    бабушка(бабуля),бабуленька, — ба…(Báh)

    дедушка(дедуля),дедуленька, — дед (Déd)

    Reply

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