Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

grandfather

/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.24 in modern English

Syllables
grand-fa-ther
IPA
/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/
19
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
3
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A father of someone's parent.

noun

A male forefather.

verb

To be, or act as, a grandfather to.

Transitive verb

verb

To retain discontinued laws or rules for (an object, individual or organization previously affected by them).

American usage; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English grandfadre, graundfadir, graunfadir, grauntfader, and other forms, from graunt (“big, large; great, important”) + fā̆der (“male parent, father; remoter male ancestor”), probably modelled after Middle French grandpere, grant pere (“male parent; remoter male ancestor”) (whence French grand-père); the English word is analysable as grand- + father. Superseded earlier eldfather, elderfather. The verb is derived from the noun.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/
  • British English: /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑːðə(r)/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Antonyms

grandmother grandson abuela baba babcia babulya /babulia (chiefly in Eastern European (especially Russian) contexts) babushka babusia babusya /babusia beldame bubbe eldermother

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce grandfather?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/.
What does grandfather mean?
A father of someone's parent.
Where does grandfather come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce grandfather

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “grandfather”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌfɑðɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “grandfather”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “grandfather” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.