Page 6 | To wish people wouldn't use the word "nana"

IDoughnutKnow · 2023-07-26T18:25:38+00:00

Unless you are a toddler and are talking about bananas. People never used it back in the good old days of MN.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/07/2023 19:57

WibblyWobblyLane · 26/07/2023 19:54

Hmm we are NW and I've never heard nan being used besides on TV. Perhaps it's a Mancunian thing. It's definitely grandma (with the dropped d) around our parts.

I had a Nan (NW). My exDH had a Nan (NW). My DGS has a Great Nan (Yorks)

HunterHearstHelmsley · 26/07/2023 19:58

rugbychick1 · 26/07/2023 19:57

My grandmother was called Nana. She was Scottish, very stylish, very clever probably middle class. I always thought of Nana being a young grandmother, and Granny as being old. She died 11 years ago. I miss her and wish she'd seen my DD grow up

Same. Grandma or granny... I picture someone very elderly. Used tissue up their sleeve and a pack of tunes in their pocket.

Nana sounds much younger.

MichaelAndEagle · 26/07/2023 19:58

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/07/2023 19:55

Of course not! Pretty much everyone I know has/had a Nana/Nanna.

That’s probably why I chose Granny actually - Nana conjours up the image of an old person and I’m not old, no siree…

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I'm afraid granny and nana conjour up the same old lady in my head. Granny is definitely not younger.

MonsterCalling · 26/07/2023 19:58

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Barold · 26/07/2023 19:59

I had two nannas and I couldn’t give a flying fuck if people had/have a problem with my calling them that.

For me, it’s their name so changing it to something else would be like suddenly calling Jennifer at work ‘Julie’.

I also have a mam and will not be changing that to ‘mum’ to suit anybody’s nonsense.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 26/07/2023 19:59

It's definitely Nana up here. My dad (who is nearly 70) had a great Nana and a Nana so obviously I had a Nana too.

Granny sounds old to me.

Kitcaterpillar · 26/07/2023 19:59

IDoughnutKnow · 26/07/2023 19:53

@AnotherThingToThinkAbout That's actually an interesting link, and it surprises me (though maybe it shouldn't). I thought everyone in real life used "Granny" and it was only on MN that people use Nan or Nana-pronounced-Nanna.

Would you say you have very few friends, OP?

GoodChat · 26/07/2023 20:00

What would you prefer? Grandma?

UrsulaBelle · 26/07/2023 20:00

My Welsh Nana was born in 1899. Nothing modern about her, bless her. 😍

Bellatrixxx · 26/07/2023 20:00

@CornishGem1975 quite!
get a hobby OP, miserable person.

Mala53 · 26/07/2023 20:01

Gosh, this can be a vicious website.
I am proud to have called my grandmother Nanna. Had I been lucky enough to have grandchildren, I too would have wished to be a Nanna.
She was reputedly the wife of a Norse God. Ideal in Scotland as some accounts refer to Nanna as ‘mother of the brave’!

Merryhobnobs · 26/07/2023 20:01

My Nana would have been offended of we called her any other Grandmotherly name other than Nana her Mum and her mother in law were both Nana too. My Granny originated from another part of Scotland only liked Granny. I've got friends from another region who use Grandma which would have been tutted at if I said it as a child as the ma part would have been cheeky. It varies a lot regionally and I think it is pretty odd to find it offensive unless someone is trying to call you Nana personally. Do you feel the same way about Papa instead of Granfather?

rugbychick1 · 26/07/2023 20:01

OnlyFannys · 26/07/2023 19:54

The word nana makes me think about a wonderful woman who meant the absolute world to me and her love and belief in me is what drove me to be work hard and become.the person I am today. I have nothing but affection for the word nana. Maybe keep your snobby opinions to yourself.

My Nana to a T. She is missed every day by her grandchildren and great grandchildren

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 26/07/2023 20:01

MichaelAndEagle · 26/07/2023 19:58

I'm afraid granny and nana conjour up the same old lady in my head. Granny is definitely not younger.

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It’s interesting, the different perceptions isn’t it?

labamba007 · 26/07/2023 20:01

BinkyBeaufort · 26/07/2023 19:55

I'm with you op. Nanna sets my teeth on edge. Nannies are female goats or are paid to do childcare.

But nanna is different to the word nanny?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 26/07/2023 20:02

Barold · 26/07/2023 19:59

I had two nannas and I couldn’t give a flying fuck if people had/have a problem with my calling them that.

For me, it’s their name so changing it to something else would be like suddenly calling Jennifer at work ‘Julie’.

I also have a mam and will not be changing that to ‘mum’ to suit anybody’s nonsense.

And I have a mom!

TheNineNine · 26/07/2023 20:02

Why not issue a list Katie Hopkins style of names that you deem appropriate.

lottiegarbanzo · 26/07/2023 20:02

MN was certainly a lot more upper-MC, London and Home Counties 'upmarket' back in the 'good old days'.

These days they allow in all sorts of lower-MCs from 'the regions'.

Right?

SnackSizeRaisin · 26/07/2023 20:02

Granny is unusual (and posh) in the north of England . Nanna and Grandma are the ordinary versions depending where you are. Never heard anyone use grandmama in real life!

Original poster

IDoughnutKnow · 26/07/2023 20:03

Kitcaterpillar · 26/07/2023 19:59

Would you say you have very few friends, OP?

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That was a good head-tilt in the old MN style. Nicely done.

OP posts:

katiewil · 26/07/2023 20:03

We use all sorts of different names for GPs.. my DH grandmother is called Nanna, my GPs are Nan and Grump, my MIL is Nan, and my parents are Nanny and Ganks (my DD couldn't pronounce 'Granch' so Ganks has stuck..

Puffalicious · 26/07/2023 20:03

I also have a mam and will not be changing that to ‘mum’ to suit anybody’s nonsense

I had a mammy/ mam - the most wonderful mammy the world has ever produced. She wasn't a mum- ever. My DC usually call me mama (in front of friends it's mum- they're teenagers!) just how I like it.

DeliciouslyDecadent · 26/07/2023 20:03

LT2 · 26/07/2023 19:28

Another confused poster here.

Did you mean 'Nanna'
Or 'nana, short for banana

It's not clear.

You are clearly too young or in the wrong part of the UK.

Nana is short for Grandma.

My Nana was born in 1896. I always called her Nana.

Even now, my Mum refers to her [my Gran] as Nana.

HulaChick · 26/07/2023 20:03

Grandma and Grandad are the only acceptable ones in my mind!! 😉😁 I also hate 'Nanny' although quite a,few of my friends like to be called it. Just personal preference for people really and probably family tradition. Only ever had Grandma's & Grandads in my family so I naturally gravitate to that (not that I am actually a grandparent yet!!). Each tobtheir own.

StrictlyJowita · 26/07/2023 20:04

IDoughnutKnow · 26/07/2023 19:53

@AnotherThingToThinkAbout That's actually an interesting link, and it surprises me (though maybe it shouldn't). I thought everyone in real life used "Granny" and it was only on MN that people use Nan or Nana-pronounced-Nanna.

Do you not know many people. Or is it just actual racism?