granddad

Granddad 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 granddad.

Granddad should be capitalized when it’s used as a proper name, as in Please tell Granddad that I miss him. 

But granddad does not need to be capitalized when it’s simply used as a way to refer to him, as in Please tell my granddad that I miss him. 

Example: It doesn’t matter what you call your granddad, as long as you call him.

The first records of the word granddad come from the 1700s. The word dad is an informal way to say father. The prefix grand- is used in family terms to indicate a person who is one generation removed, as in grandparent and grandchild. (The prefix great- indicates yet another generation, as in great-grandpa.)

Grandfathers often have special bonds with their grandchildren (who they’re known to spoil with love, affection, and candy). It’s common for grandchildren to refer to their grandfathers with informal names. Grandpa is perhaps the most common variant of the word grandfather, but there are many others, including granddad, grandpop, grampa, gramps, grandpapa, and grandpappy. Many families have their own specific version, such as Pop-Pop, Poppy, and Pa Pa.

What are some synonyms for granddad?

• granddaddy
• grandpa
• grandpapa
• grandpappy
• gramps
• grandpop
• pop-pop
• grandfather

What are some words that share a root or word element with granddad? 

• dad
• grandparent
• grandmom

What are some words that often get used in discussing grandpa?

• grandchildren
• love
• kindness
• spoil
• special
• care
• family
• patriarch

Granddad is one of the many informal variants of the word grandfather. When it’s used as a proper name, Granddad should be capitalized.

Celebrating my granddad. André Yana. ✨🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/GF1RpRuXJv

— Diane Audrey Ngako (@Voodart) August 21, 2020

Here's to you Granddad. What a character he was. Missed every day. pic.twitter.com/ERL4pjqH62

— Samantha Morris (@TheBorgiaBuIl) August 19, 2020

God, I’ve used the word “kiddo” twice this week. When did I become a granddad?

— Eric 🥃🍕🎧 Rogers (@EricRogersHere) August 19, 2020

Is granddad used correctly in the following sentence?

I’m a granddad of two and a father of five, so I know a thing or two about temper tantrums.