German · Family & People
Großvater
Grandfather
Beginnernoun
Definition
The father of one's parent.
Example
Mein Großvater ist achtzig Jahre alt.
My grandfather is eighty years old.
Etymology
'Großvater' combines 'groß' (meaning big or great) with 'Vater' (father), directly translating to 'grandfather'. The term reflects the compound formation common in German.
How & Where It’s Used
Used frequently in both spoken and written contexts, 'Großvater' is considered formal in some contexts yet is often used casually. It is uniformly used across the German-speaking world.