𑀡𑀡𑁆𑀡

Perhaps from older *𑀦𑀸𑀦𑁆𑀦 (*nānna), from onomatopoeic nursery words. Cognate with Domaaki [script needed] (nΛna), Ashkun nänī́, Kashmiri [script needed] (nāñ).

𑀡𑀡𑁆𑀡 (ṇaṇṇa) m (Devanagari णण्ण)

1. eldest brother
2. (in some descendants) term of respect for an older relative

• Central Indo-Aryan:
  • Hindustani:
    • Hindi: नाना m (nānā, “grandfather”), नानी f (nānī, “grandmother”), ननिया (naniyā)
    • Urdu: نانا m (nānā), نانی f (nānī), ننیا (naniyā)
• Eastern Indo-Aryan:
  • Bengali: নানা (nana), নানী (nani)
  • Odia: ନାନା (nānā), ନାନି (nāni), ନାନ (nāna), ନନା (nanā), ନନି (nani)
• Northern Indo-Aryan:
  • Kumaoni: नानो (nāno), नानी (nānī)
  • Nepali: नानि (nāni)
• Northwestern Indo-Aryan:
  • Punjabi:

    Gurmukhi script: ਨਾਨਾ m (nānā), ਨਾਨੀ f (nānī)

    Shahmukhi script: نانا m (nānā), نانی f (nānī)

• Southern Indo-Aryan:
  • Marathi: नाना m (nānā), नानी f (nānī)

• Turner, Ralph Lilley (1969–1985), “nanna”, in A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages, London: Oxford University Press, page 405