grandpa

American  

[gran-pah, -paw, grand-, gram-, gram-puh] / ˈgrænˌpɑ, -ˌpɔ, ˈgrænd-, ˈgræm-, ˈgræm pə /

noun

Informal.

1. grandfather.

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grandpa British  

/ ˈɡrænd-, ˈɡræm-, ˈɡrænd-, ˈɡrænpəˌpɑː, ˈɡrænˌpɑː /

noun

1. informal words for grandfather

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Usage

What does grandpa mean? Grandpa is an informal word for grandfather—the father of a person’s parent.When a father’s child has their own children, that father becomes a grandpa. The word pa is an informal way to say father.Grandpa is often combined with a name, especially when a person has two grandfathers that they call Grandpa, as in Grandpa Carl andGrandpa Frank. Should grandpa be capitalized?Grandpa should be capitalized when it’s used as a proper name, as in Please tell Grandpa that I miss him. But grandpa does not need to be capitalized when it’s simply used as a way to refer to him, as in Please tell my grandpa that I miss him. Example: It doesn’t matter what you call your grandpa, as long as you call him.

Etymology

Origin of grandpa

First recorded in 1885–90; grand- + pa

Example Sentences

"Some of the words my grandpa used were in French, and I didn't even know what he was talking about," he said.

From Barron's

“I already have nightmares, grandpa,” says the kid.

From The Wall Street Journal

“My girlfriend’s grandpa used to collect matchbooks, and last summer, he gave me a really sentimental one, really solidifying my place in the family, and we both wanted it to become our thing,” she says.

From Salon

Ever since she was very young, she enjoyed hanging out with her grandpa and helping him work on his collection of classic cars.

From The Wall Street Journal

My grandpa always used to say, “A hundred years from now, will anyone know the difference?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ancestor
• patriarch