granny
granny — noun
1. an informal, affectionate word for a grandmother — someone's parent's mother, us
an informal, affectionate word for a grandmother — someone's parent's mother, used especially by children or when talking about family in a warm, familiar way.
Elena visits her granny every Sunday after church.
possessive: her granny
My granny taught me how to bake chocolate cookies when I was little.
Eri's granny lives with them and helps take care of the baby.
Granny knitted a warm scarf for Nora's birthday last winter.
Linh's granny tells wonderful stories about growing up near the sea.
- grandma
equally informal, the most common alternative in American and British English
- nana
UK informal term, often used by very young children
- grandmother
neutral/formal term; appropriate in all contexts
文法句型
possessive + granny
用法筆記
Almost always used with a possessive like my, your, his, her, or a name (Granny Helen). Avoid using granny without a possessor in neutral contexts — it sounds oddly distant. Frequently used as a term of address ('Granny, can I have more cake?').
常見錯誤
2. a rude way to refer to an older woman, meant to insult her or make her feel bad
a rude way to refer to an older woman, meant to insult her or make her feel bad simply because she is old.
Some teenagers shouted 'granny' at the elderly woman crossing the street.
used as a taunt toward a stranger
The office manager was offended when a new hire referred to her as that old granny behind her back.
indirect derogatory reference behind someone's back
Karim used the word granny as an insult during the argument with his neighbour.
The woman was hurt when a customer called her an old granny for walking slowly.
文法句型
call someone a granny
you old granny
用法筆記
Strongly offensive in most contexts. Unlike the family sense (sense 1), this use targets strangers or non-family members with the intent to insult. Teachers, parents, and media often warn against using granny this way. The word carries ageist prejudice.
常見錯誤
granny — adjective
1. describes clothing or accessories in a style thought to be more suitable for an
describes clothing or accessories in a style thought to be more suitable for an older woman — usually referring to old-fashioned, conservative designs.
Jabari laughed at his sister's granny glasses with their thick round frames.
granny + glasses (clothing item)
She found a granny dress with tiny floral patterns at the vintage market.
Those granny shoes look comfortable but the style feels very old-fashioned.
The shop sells granny cardigans that young people now buy for retro fashion.
Rania refused to wear the granny nightgown her aunt gave her for the trip.
- old-fashioned
neutral term; broader meaning covering anything outdated, not just clothes
- frumpy
more negative; suggests the clothes are also unattractive, not just old-fashioned
- vintage
positive or trendy term for something from an earlier era
文法句型
granny + noun (glasses/dress/shoes/cardigan)
用法筆記
Attributive only — you cannot say 'Her dress is granny.' It must appear before a noun: granny dress, granny glasses, granny shoes. The tone can be teasing but is usually not as offensive as the noun sense (sense 2). Some young people now wear granny styles ironically as retro fashion.