way of addressing

[keitra]

Can I call out to an old lady in the street "grandma"?

[Quizmonster]

Politely? Only if she is the mother of either of your parents!

[Celtigra3]

If she is your grandma, yes.

Otherwise, no. An "Excuse Me" would be politer!

[jno]

that's a family name and should be reserved for family. Do you have to name her at all? Why not just call out Hello?

[theo_wyvern]

she may not be a grandma due to a number of reasons so NO

[Bohne]

A strange lady? No way!

I hope she'll hit you with her handbag if you do!

[pat2936]

I think it would be more polite to address her as madam. If you were calling out to a young woman you would call her miss I am sure.If you look it up in the dictionary, you will see that I am correct.

[BriWrite]

It's sad that you need to ask.

[woofgang]

no its not sad. keitra is learning English and posts on here for help. In some places in the world, the linguistic equivalent of the English Grandma is a polite way to addtress older ladies. In the UK it isn't amd "Madam" or Excuse me madam would be much politer. Also you would not call out unless it was an emergency or hyou had tried to attract their attention more quietly and failed

[pat2936]

If a person is learning our language, then they should put that in their post. People would answer in a different way, knowing their situation

[BriWrite]

Couldnt have put it better myself Pat, Thank you.

[lankeela]

Unless the lady was at least 90, walking with a stick and bent double, grey haired and wearing those orthopaedic type shoes, then you might get a surprise when she turns round and turns out to be a lot younger!

I certainly wouldn't like it said to me, although some youngsters use it as an insult, if you try to tell them off for somethin, i.e. 'push off grandma'

I always called my grandma 'grandma' but why do some people use grandmother, gran, granny, nan, nanny, nana? I work for a greetings card company, and they sell more 'granny' cards in Scotland than in England.

[Dark Angel]

No, because it is meant for your grandmother only.

You could call an elderly lady "madam" instead.

[Dark Angel]

In some parts of the world people do call their friend's parents "Uncle" and "Auntie", but not in UK.

[beejaybee]

Sorry to contradict you dark angel, but we do call friends of parents "aunty & uncle" in Wales, at least I always did. It`s a courtesy title & much better than calling them by their Christian name. beejaybee

[Dark Angel]

No problem, beejaybee! That's nice to hear that these forms of address are used in some parts of UK. It somehow seems more respectful.