Tym Blogs Too!: The uncertainties of saying "auntie"

Friday, February 22, 2008

The uncertainties of saying "auntie"

How does one address one's friend's grandmother? This question stumped me when I was invited to Stellou's for dinner, although I forgot to ask her beforehand and wound up calling her grandmother "auntie". Which I later heard Stellou's friend and other dinner guest say as well, which made me feel better.

"Auntie" seems a tad too familiar, though, for addressing someone two generations older. I know my mother says something that sounds like "Chair-mm" in Cantonese when she greets her siblings' in-laws, but I have no idea what that term means or if it applies to grandparental types.

Help, anyone?

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Related post: The uncertainties of saying "uncle"

Technorati Tags: Singapore, auntie

posted by Tym at 3:24 PM

5 comments | Trackbacks

5 Comments

At 2/22/2008 7:15 PM lost said...: i call my cousin's grandma (the one i'm not related to) 'char-mmm', but i've no clue what it means. or if it even applies for friends' grandparents. or if said grandparents of non-cantonese(?) heritage will even know what it means.
At 2/22/2008 10:39 PM Little Miss Drinkalot said...: Well, I address the best friend's grandma same as how the best friend addresses her - Ah Ma.
At 2/23/2008 4:22 PM limegreenspyda said...: I've never heard of the term "chair-mmm" even though the dialect spoken predominantly in both sides of my family is Cantonese.

But I call everyone Auntie. Everyone. Even if they are younger than me. It has not yet failed me. :)
At 2/23/2008 5:36 PM Anonymous said...: I think you can try Ah Po. I used to call my neighbour's grandma that. They are Cantonese too.
At 2/24/2008 8:51 AM Ondine said...: If these 'grand aunts' are from Mom's Pernakan side or are of Peranakan descent, I call them "Po-Po".

If not, they are "ah Por". I've never come across Grand uncles and we were stumped as to how the twins would refer to Yong Ern's father.

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