Children Call Terms Younger Mommy Ma Common Southern

Very few children call their parents "mother" and "father," which sounds too "formal" (very respectful and polite, but not relaxed or comfortable). Instead, they're more likely to call their mother "mom," "mommy," or "ma." "Mom" is probably the most common word. Younger children are more likely to say "mommy," especially until they enter school around age six. Children in the southern United States or in "rural" (country; not near a city) areas are more likely to say "ma." Similar terms are used for talking to or about a father. "Dad" is the most common, but "daddy" is used by younger children. "Pa" is used by children in the southern United States or in rural areas.

The terms "grandfather" and "grandmother" are also "quite" (very) formal. Children are more likely to call their grandparents "grandpa" and "grandma." "Nana" is another common term for grandma. You might hear "Nanna," "Nanny," Gran," and "Granny," too, although some people might think that "Gran" and "Granny" sound "disrespectful" (not showing enough respect and love). Some children call their grandfather "Poppy" or "Pappy." Some grandparents ask their grandchildren to use special names for them, and some who wish they were younger ask their grandchildren to call them by their first names, because they don't want other people to know they are grandparents.

Children usually call their "siblings" (brothers and sisters) by their first names. They may also use a family "nickname" (a name used by friends and relatives), especially if it's how they first pronounced an older sibling's name when they were very young, before they could say it correctly.