yiayia

Yiayia is the transliteration of the Modern Greek Γιαγιά, meaning grandmother. It is commonly used as an affectionate term by grandchildren and as a respectful form of address for an elderly woman within Greek families. In English-language contexts, spellings such as yiayia, yia-yia, or giagia are common.

In Greek, Γιαγιά is a standard everyday word and is widely used across Greece and among Greek-speaking communities abroad. The term conveys familial closeness and cultural belonging, and its pronunciation typically places the emphasis on the second syllable.

Culturally, the yiayia often plays a central role in the family. Grandmothers are frequently involved in childcare, cooking traditional dishes, and sharing family histories, songs, and language with younger generations. They may also participate in religious and community events, and their presence is commonly associated with warmth, storytelling, and continuity of tradition in Greek households and diaspora communities. The figure of the yiayia appears in Greek literature and media as a familiar symbol of family bonds and intergenerational connection.

Related terms include pappou for grandfather, and in diaspora communities, the term yiayia can extend to elder women who act as matriarchs within families, even when not strictly a genetic grandmother.