नानाजीNanajiMaternal Grandfather
Nanaji (नानाजी) is your maternal grandfather in Hindi — your mother's father. The respectful -ji attaches to nana, and the term belongs strictly to the mother's side of the family tree, mirroring dada on the father's side.
Who is your Nanaji?
Nanaji presides over the nanihal — the mother's parental home — which occupies a magical place in North Indian childhood as the site of summer holidays, spoiling, and freedom from routine. Because grandchildren traditionally grow up in their father's household, nanaji's role is pure indulgence: he has no disciplinary duties, only affection to give. Countless Hindi memoirs and films lean on the image of children piling off a train into their nana's arms at the start of the holidays.
How it's used
Grandchildren address him as Nanaji with aap; his own children, of course, call him Pitaji or Papa — nana is specifically the grandchildren's word through their mother. For example: "Garmiyon ki chhuttiyon mein hum Nanaji ke ghar jaate hain." — "We go to grandfather's house in the summer holidays."
Nanaji vs similar terms
Nana is your mother's father; dada is your father's father. The two are never interchangeable in Hindi: dadaji typically anchors the home you belong to, while nanaji anchors the home you visit. Both take -ji, and both differ from the English catch-all grandfather.
Frequently asked questions
What does Nanaji mean in Hindi?
Nanaji means maternal grandfather in Hindi — your mother's father. It joins nana with the honorific -ji and applies only through your mother; your father's father is dadaji.
What is nanihal?
Nanihal is the Hindi word for your mother's parental home — the household of your nana and nani. It is culturally synonymous with holidays and pampering, since children traditionally live in their father's home and visit the nanihal as cherished guests.
Related terms
Build your family tree with Nanaji on it
Add real family members and see exactly how each kinship term maps to your relatives.
Start building — free