You may have seen the terms “nana” and “nanna” used to refer to “grandmother.” This page examines if both spelling versions are correct, where they are used, and demonstrates how they are used in sentences.
Nana or Nanna – Which Spelling Is Correct?
According to the dictionary, the correct spelling to refer to “grandmother” is “nana”; however, in some parts of the world, people use the spelling “nanna” as a kind of informal nickname. In the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, “nana” is preferred, although “nanna” is also common in Australia.
The terms “nana” and “nanna” are both derivatives of the word “nanny”, which is derived from “grandmother” or “granny.”
The Cambridge Dictionary states that “nana” is the correct spelling when referring to one’s grandmother, and it doesn’t contain a listing for “nanna.” The spelling “nanna” is found in some dictionaries such as Collins, but it is listed as “the wife of Balder”, who was a figure from Norse mythology,
The fact that both terms are informal and are often used as a nickname or as a proper noun means that the “correct” spelling is not considered that important, and people use a variety of terms such as “nana”, “nanna”, “nanan”, or “nan” without much consideration as to which is version is “correct.”
Here are some examples of “nana” in a sentence: Please note that it can be used as a proper noun to refer to a specific person or as a regular noun to refer to “nanas” in general.
- We are going to Nana’s house this weekend.
- My nana abandoned my mother when she was a baby, so I have never met her.
- Children love to visit their nanas because they usually spoil them with sweets and treats.
Nana or Nanna in the UK?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the correct spelling of the word is “nana”, and the alternative “nanna” is not listed.
However, because the term is informal and colloquial, its spelling varies from person to person or family to family. For example, in my own personal case, growing up in the north of England, I used the word “nannan” rather than “nana” or “nanna.”
The term can be used as a general noun to refer to all “nanas”, or it can be a proper noun when using it to replace the name of your “grandmother.”
The Google Ngram for British English shows that “nana” has always been far more common than “nanna”, although the latter has grown slightly in popularity since the 1990s.
Furthermore, in Ireland, the term “nana” is more common than “nanna”, which has grown in recent years but is still less popular than “nana.”
Nana or Nanna in the US?
According to Collins Dictionary, in the US, the most common spelling version is “nana”, and the alternative “nanna” is listed as a figure from Norse mythology. However, as in other versions of English, the terms “nana” and “nanna” are informal, colloquial words that can vary from family to family.
Therefore, it would not be uncommon to see the word “nanna” used as a noun or a proper noun to refer to one’s “grandmother”; however, it is more common to use the dictionary version “nana.”
The Google Ngram for American English is similar to that of the UK and reveals that “nana” has always been more popular than “nanna.”
Furthermore, since the 1990s, there has been tremendous growth in the word “nana” in American English, which has not been matched by growth in the use of “nanna.”
Nana or Nanna in Canada?
Canadian English tends to follow American English for the most part, and in the case of “nana”, the trend is the same in Canada as in the US. However, considering that the term “nana” is informal and is derived from “grandmother”, its usage can vary from person to person, even within the same family.
Therefore, the most popular of the terms in Canada is “nana”, but you will still find people who use “nanna” or “nan.”
Nana or Nanna in Australia
In Australia, it is more common to use the spelling version found in most dictionaries, which is “nana.” However, unlike in other versions of English, the word “nanna” is listed in the Macquarie Dictionary as the main version of the spelling, and it lists “nana” as a secondary spelling version.
Therefore, it would be more common to see “nanna” in Australia than in the UK or US, but because the terms are colloquial and informal, their spelling can vary from person to person.
Nana or Nanna in Other Countries?
The Google Ngram for global use reveals a similar trend to the UK and the US, with “nana” being the far more standard spelling version.
Also, the use of the word “nana” around the world has increased substantially since the 1990s, whilst the use of the spelling “nanna” has only increased slightly over the same period.
However, because the term “nana” is informal and is often used as a proper noun to replace the name of a grandmother, its spelling can vary from person to person or family to family.
Final Thoughts
The version of the spelling listed in most dictionaries is “nana”, and this version is used most commonly in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. However, you will still see people using the spelling “nanna”, especially in Australia, and due to its informality would not be considered “incorrect.”
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
