What Should Your Grandchildren/Children Call You?
Many people have written to me asking what the Irish words for Mother/Father/Grandmother/Grandfather are. Here are a few ideas for those of you who are tired of the usual Grandma and Grandpa.
If you haven't done so already, non-Irish speakers please see the the pronunciation guide.
This page includes words for Mother, Father , Grandmother , Grandfather, and Other Relatives.
Names For Mother
Most Irish children use the English words for their mothers, including Mam, Mom, Mammy, Ma, Mommy and occasionally Mother. The Irish word for mother is Máthair (MAW her), but this is rarely used. In Irish Gaelic, children would call their mothers Mamaí, which is pronounced Mah-mee.
Names for Father
Again, most Irish children use English words for their fathers. These include Dad, Daddy, and Da. The Irish Gaelic word for father is Athair (AH her). Most Irish speaking children would call their fathers Dadaí (DAH dee), however.
Names for Grandmother
Most English-speaking
children call their grandmothers Granny, Grandma, or Nana/Nanna.
There are a few different words for Grandmother in Irish, including Seanmháthair
(shan a WAW her), máthair mhór (maw her aWOR), and máthair Chríona (MAW
her KHREE un na). These literally mean "old mother", "great mother" and
"mother of the heart." These words are not used to actually address the
grandmother, though. Children would call a grandmother Maimeó (MAM
o), or perhaps Móraí (MO ree).
Names for Grandfather
Most English-speaking
children would call their grandfathers Granda or Grandad.
Like grandmother, there are a number of different Irish words for grandfather.
These include Seanathair (shan AH her), Athair mór (AH her MORE), Athair
Críonna (AH her KREE un na). These literally mean "old father", "great
father" and "father of the heart." Children would use Daideó (Daddo)or
sometimes Móraí (MO ree)when addressing their grandfathers.
Words for Other Relatives
Here are the words for other relatives. They are just for your information. Just as English speaking children rarely refer to their aunts and uncles as "Aunt" and "Uncle," these words are more descriptive than used as forms of address.
| English | Irish | Approximate Pronounciation |
| Daughter | Iníon | ih NEE in |
| Son | Mac | MOK |
| Granddaughter | Gariníon | gar in EE in |
| Grandson | Garmhac | gar aWOK |
| Aunt | Aintín | AUN tcheen, AUN tseen |
| Uncle | Uncail | UN kil |
| Niece | Neacht, Iníon dearthár, Iníon deirféar | NYAKHT, in EE in DAR hawr, in EE in djer fare |
| Nephew | Nia, Mac dearthár, Mac deirféar | NEE a, mok DAR hawr, mok djer fair |
| Cousin (first) | Col Ceathrair | kul KYA hrer |
| Cousin (second) | Col Seisir | kul SHEH sher |