Grandparents and Grandchildren in Punjabi: Dada, Dadi, Nana, Nani, Pota, Dohta — and How to Talk to Them
Paternal grandfather is Dada, paternal grandmother Dadi, maternal grandfather Nana, maternal grandmother Nani; a son's son is Pota, a daughter's son Dohta. The full chart with Gurmukhi and pronunciation, plus 40 phrases for calling, visiting and understanding your Punjabi grandparents — and the blessings they'll give you back.
In Punjabi your father's parents are Dada (ਦਾਦਾ, grandfather) and Dadi (ਦਾਦੀ, grandmother); your mother's parents are Nana (ਨਾਨਾ) and Nani (ਨਾਨੀ). Going the other way, a son's children are Pota (ਪੋਤਾ, grandson) and Poti (ਪੋਤੀ, granddaughter), and a daughter's children are Dohta (ਦੋਹਤਾ) and Dohti (ਦੋਹਤੀ). English has one word for "grandmother"; Punjabi tells you which side of the family she's on. Below is the complete chart, and then the part that matters more: the phrases to greet, call, visit and actually understand your grandparents — and the blessings you'll get in return.
Grandparents and Grandchildren in Punjabi: The Chart
| Relationship | Punjabi | Gurmukhi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paternal grandfather (father's father) | Dada (ji) | ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ | DAA-daa jee |
| Paternal grandmother (father's mother) | Dadi (ji) | ਦਾਦੀ ਜੀ | DAA-dee jee |
| Maternal grandfather (mother's father) | Nana (ji) | ਨਾਨਾ ਜੀ | NAA-naa jee |
| Maternal grandmother (mother's mother) | Nani (ji) | ਨਾਨੀ ਜੀ | NAA-nee jee |
| Great-grandfather / great-grandmother (father's side) | Pardada / Pardadi | ਪੜਦਾਦਾ / ਪੜਦਾਦੀ | pur-DAA-daa / pur-DAA-dee |
| Great-grandfather / great-grandmother (mother's side) | Parnana / Parnani | ਪੜਨਾਨਾ / ਪੜਨਾਨੀ | pur-NAA-naa / pur-NAA-nee |
| Grandson (son's son) | Pota | ਪੋਤਾ | PO-taa |
| Granddaughter (son's daughter) | Poti | ਪੋਤੀ | PO-tee |
| Grandson (daughter's son) | Dohta | ਦੋਹਤਾ | DOH-taa |
| Granddaughter (daughter's daughter) | Dohti | ਦੋਹਤੀ | DOH-tee |
| Great-grandson / great-granddaughter (son's line) | Parpota / Parpoti | ਪੜਪੋਤਾ / ਪੜਪੋਤੀ | pur-PO-taa / pur-PO-tee |
| Great-grandson / great-granddaughter (daughter's line) | Pardohta / Pardohti | ਪੜਦੋਹਤਾ / ਪੜਦੋਹਤੀ | pur-DOH-taa / pur-DOH-tee |
| Grandchildren (all together) | Pote-potiyan / dohte-dohtiyan | ਪੋਤੇ-ਪੋਤੀਆਂ / ਦੋਹਤੇ-ਦੋਹਤੀਆਂ | — |
Three things worth knowing. First, Punjabi has no single word for "grandparents" — you name the pair: Dada-Dadi or Nana-Nani. Second, the dadi–pota relationship is, in English, simply grandmother and grandson; it's English that is vague, not Punjabi. Third, the same logic runs through the whole Punjabi family tree — chacha and mama are both "uncle", but one is your father's brother and one your mother's.
What Your Family Actually Calls Them
Dada and Dadi are the dictionary words; many households use warmer, older ones. Bebe (ਬੇਬੇ) and Bapu (ji) (ਬਾਪੂ ਜੀ) originally meant mother and father in rural Punjab and are now what a lot of families call grandmother and grandfather. Biji (ਬੀਜੀ) is a respectful "grandma / mum", Baba ji (ਬਾਬਾ ਜੀ) an affectionate "grandpa" (and any elderly man), Mata ji (ਮਾਤਾ ਜੀ) a formal "mother / grandmother". And in plenty of diaspora homes the grandparents are simply Mummy ji and Daddy ji, because that's what the parents call them. Use whatever your family uses — and always add ji.
How to Greet Your Grandparents
Say Sat Sri Akaal ji (ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਜੀ) with hands folded — Sikh families; Namaste ji or Assalam-o-Alaikum in Hindu and Muslim families — and, if you're family, bend and touch their feet: pairi pauna (ਪੈਰੀਂ ਪੈਣਾ, "to fall at the feet"). Say "Pairi pauna, Dadi ji" as you bow. The reply is the blessing: Jeonde raho (ਜਿਉਂਦੇ ਰਹੋ, "may you live long") or Khush raho (ਖੁਸ਼ ਰਹੋ, "be happy"), often with a hand on your head. For which greeting fits which family, see our Punjabi greetings guide.
Phrases for a Phone Call
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Hello, Sat Sri Akaal, Nani ji! | Hello ji, Sat Sri Akaal Nani ji! | ਹੈਲੋ ਜੀ, ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਨਾਨੀ ਜੀ! |
| How are you? (respectful) | Tusi kiven ho? | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? |
| How is your health? | Tuhadi sehat kiven hai? | ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਸਿਹਤ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੈ? |
| Did you take your medicine? | Dawai le layi? | ਦਵਾਈ ਲੈ ਲਈ? |
| Have you eaten? | Roti kha layi? | ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾ ਲਈ? |
| I'm fine | Main theek haan | ਮੈਂ ਠੀਕ ਹਾਂ |
| I miss you a lot | Tuhadi bahut yaad aundi hai | ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਯਾਦ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ |
| I'll come soon (male / female speaker) | Main jaldi aavaanga / aavaangi | ਮੈਂ ਜਲਦੀ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ / ਆਵਾਂਗੀ |
| How's the weather there? | Othe mausam kiven hai? | ਓਥੇ ਮੌਸਮ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੈ? |
| How is everyone in the village? | Pind vich sab kiven han? | ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਭ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹਨ? |
| Tell me one of your stories | Mainu apni koi kahani sunao | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਕੋਈ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੁਣਾਓ |
| What was it like when you were young? | Tuhade vele kiven hunda si? | ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਵੇਲੇ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਸੀ? |
| It was lovely talking to you | Tuhade naal gall karke bahut changa lagga | ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਕੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗਾ ਲੱਗਾ |
| Take care of yourself | Apna khayal rakhna | ਆਪਣਾ ਖ਼ਿਆਲ ਰੱਖਣਾ |
| Goodbye (God protect you) | Rabb rakha | ਰੱਬ ਰਾਖਾ |
Verbs ending in -aanga are for male speakers and -aangi for female speakers. More on the "how are you" exchange and its replies.
What They'll Say to You (and What It Really Means)
| They say | Gurmukhi | Literal | Actual meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roti khaadi? | ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਧੀ? | Did you eat? | I love you |
| Kadon aa rahe ho? | ਕਦੋਂ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ? | When are you coming? | I miss you |
| Patle ho gaye / Mote ho gaye | ਪਤਲੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ / ਮੋਟੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ | You've got thin / fat | I'm looking at you closely because I care |
| Sweater paa lo | ਸਵੈਟਰ ਪਾ ਲੋ | Put on a sweater | It is below 25°C somewhere |
| Vyah kadon karna? | ਵਿਆਹ ਕਦੋਂ ਕਰਨਾ? | When will you marry? | You are over 22 |
| Mera putt / meri dhee | ਮੇਰਾ ਪੁੱਤ / ਮੇਰੀ ਧੀ | My son / my daughter | Any grandchild, of any age |
| Ki haal hai mere sher da? | ਕੀ ਹਾਲ ਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਦਾ? | How is my lion? | Hello, grandson |
| Jeonde raho, khush raho | ਜਿਉਂਦੇ ਰਹੋ, ਖੁਸ਼ ਰਹੋ | Live long, be happy | The standard blessing — reply with ji and a smile |
| Rabb tenu lambi umar deve | ਰੱਬ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਲੰਬੀ ਉਮਰ ਦੇਵੇ | May God give you a long life | A bigger blessing, usually after you've done something right |
| Chardi kala vich raho | ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹੋ | Stay in rising spirits | Keep your chin up — the Sikh wish for resilience |
Visiting: Tea, Food and Leaving
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Will you have tea? (they'll ask) | Chah peeni hai? | ਚਾਹ ਪੀਣੀ ਹੈ? |
| Yes please, just a little | Haan ji, thodi jehi | ਹਾਂ ਜੀ, ਥੋੜ੍ਹੀ ਜਿਹੀ |
| That's enough, I'm full | Bas ji, pet bhar gaya | ਬੱਸ ਜੀ, ਪੇਟ ਭਰ ਗਿਆ |
| It was delicious | Bahut swaad si | ਬਹੁਤ ਸੁਆਦ ਸੀ |
| Can I help? | Main kujh madad karaan? | ਮੈਂ ਕੁਝ ਮਦਦ ਕਰਾਂ? |
| I should go now (m / f) | Hun main chalda / chaldi haan | ਹੁਣ ਮੈਂ ਚੱਲਦਾ / ਚੱਲਦੀ ਹਾਂ |
| I'll come again (m / f) | Main phir aavaanga / aavaangi | ਮੈਂ ਫਿਰ ਆਵਾਂਗਾ / ਆਵਾਂਗੀ |
A Two-Minute Call, Scripted
You: Sat Sri Akaal Dadi ji! Tusi kiven ho? (ਸਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਦਾਦੀ ਜੀ! ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? — Hello Grandma! How are you?)
Dadi: Sat Sri Akaal putt. Main theek haan. Tu suna, roti khaadi? (Hello, child. I'm fine. Tell me — have you eaten?)
You: Haan ji, kha layi. Tuhadi sehat kiven hai? Dawai le layi? (Yes, I ate. How is your health? Did you take your medicine?)
Dadi: Haan putt, le layi. Kadon aa riha hai? (Yes, I took it. When are you coming?)
You: Main December vich aavaanga. Tuhadi bahut yaad aundi hai. (I'll come in December. I miss you a lot.)
Dadi: Jeonde raho, mera sher. (Live long, my lion.)
You: Apna khayal rakhna ji. Rabb rakha. (Take care of yourself. God protect you.)
That's seven lines, and every grandparent on earth will tell the neighbours about it. If you grew up understanding Punjabi but freezing when you have to speak it, our guide to going from understanding to speaking is built for exactly this call — and if you want the next generation to have it too, see teaching kids Punjabi at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is grandson in Punjabi?
A son's son is pota (ਪੋਤਾ); a daughter's son is dohta (ਦੋਹਤਾ). Punjabi always says which line the grandchild comes from.
What is granddaughter in Punjabi?
A son's daughter is poti (ਪੋਤੀ); a daughter's daughter is dohti (ਦੋਹਤੀ).
What is the difference between Dada and Nana?
Dada (ਦਾਦਾ) is your father's father and Nana (ਨਾਨਾ) your mother's father; their wives are Dadi and Nani. Both are usually addressed with ji: Dada ji, Nani ji.
How do you say grandparents in Punjabi?
There's no single word — you name the pair: Dada-Dadi (ਦਾਦਾ-ਦਾਦੀ) for your father's parents and Nana-Nani (ਨਾਨਾ-ਨਾਨੀ) for your mother's.
Have the Conversation Your Grandparents Are Waiting For
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