Would an Italian-American call her grandma 'Nana'?

alisande

I need help with a story I'm writing. An American girl's grandmother is Italian. In the Irish-Italian neighborhood where I grew up, a lot of grandmothers were called Nana. But I can't remember if they were Italian or not.

I have the girl calling her grandmother "Nana Maria." Will that work?

Thanks!

Susan

SaveComment14Like
Comments (14)
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
sushipup1

Nonna or Noni would be a most common, from my limited experience with Italian friends.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
Lindsey_CA

I'm Italian-American. :-)

Nonna is Grandmother

Nonno is Grandfather

Nonni is Grandparents

Nipote is Granddaughter and/or Grandson

Zia is Aunt

Zio is Uncle

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
des_arc_ya_ya

My ex's grandparents were both first generation Italians. Gram'ma was the preferred term at their house. (Emphasis on the Gram part. (Us Southerners say Grandmaw! LOL)

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
jenuwin

We called our grandmother Mama, and grandfather Nonno.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
yborgal

We're 3rd generation Italians with our families coming from Italy and Sicily. We call our grandmothers Nana and our grandfathers Nano.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
happytime_ca

I'm Italian/American and my grandmother was Noni. (no first name added)

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
alisande

Thanks, everyone! I'll just change Nana to Nonna. Perfect!

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
mrsmarv

My mother was Italian and Nonna is what we call grandmas.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
jannie

I don't know about Italians, but we Germans called our Grandparents Oma and Opa. My friend Patty (ethnicity unknown) caled her Grandmother "Nanny."

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
danihoney

My nieces and nephew call their Italian grandma Nonna.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
cynic

FWIW, Lidia Bastianich on her shows always refers to herself as Nonna (Nona?) when she's talking to her grandkids.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
matti5

I'm Italian and grew up in an all Italian neighborhood. We called our great grandmother and grandmother, Nana and grandfathers Nano. Our nieghbors and friends did the same in their families. My kids call my parents Nana and Nano.

Hallmark and other greeting card companies use Nana.

I don't think there is an absolute here, each family is different, so you can't go wrong with either one.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
jannie

My children called their 2 Grandmothers "Grandma Josie" and "Grandma Wood." My husband's mother was named Josephine/Josie and Wood is my maiden name. Every family is different.

Save    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
azzalea

Know this isn't what you asked, but we're German Americans and my grandmother and great grandmother were both Nanny. I would love to be Nanny to my gk, if I ever get any--LOL.

As someone else said--you won't be wrong, no matter what you decide because there's really no universal answer to this one, families all have their own traditions.

Save    
Browse Gardening and Landscaping Stories on Houzz See all Stories
Kitchen Storage Plate Racks: Not Just for Grandma’s House Anymore
Check out 16 fun, practical and stylish ways to display your dinner plates
Full Story
Historic Homes Tour the Historic Homes of Trailblazing African Americans
During Black History Month read about some of our country’s barrier-breaking figures and see the places they called home
Full Story
Trending Now Coastal Grandmother and Her Kin: Translating Top Design Trends
Learn to spot (and speak) coastal grandma, Japandi, grandmillennial and everything ‘-core’
Full Story
Whatever your next project may entail, Whisler Home Improvement is here to help. We are committed to treating our... Read More
Peabody Landscape Group was founded in 1979 by Douglas & David Peabody. Our commitment is to carefully listen and... Read More