μάμμη
mámmē
G3125 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Term of familiar endearment referring to a grandmother; specifically a maternal grandmother, but can also denote an elderly female caregiver or ancestor in some contexts. Bears the sense of an affectionate and intimate familial title used within the household.
Semantic Range
maternal grandmother, grandmother, elderly female relative, elderly woman; affectionate term for an older female caregiver
Root / Etymology
Probably of onomatopoeic or nursery origin, imitative of early child speech (similar to 'mama' or 'mammy'); unrelated to regular Classical Greek vocabulary, with no clear derivation from a known verb or noun; etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The word μάμμη is a rare and informal term, occurring only in 2 Timothy 1:5 in the New Testament, where it designates Lois, the maternal grandmother of Timothy. It is not found in classical Greek literature and appears as a colloquial or nursery word, akin to terms of endearment used for mothers or grandmothers in various languages. In later Greek, and in some patristic sources, it continues to mean 'grandmother' or old woman in a familiar or affectionate sense. English translations (e.g., 'grandmother') accurately reflect the specific familial relationship, but the term's affectionate, informal nuance is difficult to fully convey in translation. The usage stands in contrast to the more formal Greek term for grandmother, τέθη (tēthē).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of natural origin ("mammy"); a grandmother:--grandmother.
Root Family
μάμμη (mammē) — mother, grandmother
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3125-01 |
μάμμῃ | mamme | N DAT F SG |
grandmother | to grandmother | grandmother | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3125-01 |
2 Timothy 1:5 | μάμμῃ | mamme | N DAT F SG |
grandmother | to grandmother | grandmother |