Bubbe
/ˈbʊbə/noun
A grandmother; especially a grandmother in Yiddish-speaking or Jewish family contexts.
Did you know?Bubbe is a Yiddish word ultimately borrowed from Slavic languages, where similar forms for “grandmother” are widespread, showing how everyday family words can travel across centuries and borders.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Slavic
PSl
*baba
“Old woman; grandmother; woman of the older generation”
Medieval Slavic
Slavic
baba / babka
“Grandmother; old woman; sometimes an affectionate family term”
Yiddish
Yid
bubbe
“Grandmother”
19th Century
English
bubbe
“A grandmother, especially in Jewish communities”
Modern English
English
bubbe
“Grandmother; an affectionate term for a grandmother”