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Great or Grand?

  • 15-10-2011 9:12pm
    #1
    The Davestator
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,537 ✭✭✭


    My 13th year old daughter asked me today the following question that I could not answer;

    If my dads dad is called 'Grandfather', why is my uncle's uncle called my 'great uncle'

    Why is her Dad's dad not called her great dad?

    (you need to be sober to participate in this thread)!


Comments

  • #2
    Tesco Massacre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 814 ✭✭✭Tesco Massacre


    Sort of related to appropriate/inappropriate familial nomenclature:

    My mate calls his parents Ann and Declan. What's up with that?


  • #3
    Suryavarman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,583 ✭✭✭Suryavarman


    Always went for grand uncle myself.


  • #4
    AnamGlas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 593 ✭✭✭AnamGlas


    Sure they're only grand, what's great about them?


  • #5
    Agricola
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,547 ✭✭✭Agricola


    The Davestator wrote: »
    My 13th year old daughter asked me today the following question that I could not answer;

    If my dads dad is called 'Grandfather', why is my uncle's uncle called my 'great uncle'

    Why is her Dad's dad not called her great dad?

    (you need to be sober to participate in this thread)!

    Probably just a convention thats there for no particular reason. Like the silent "p"


  • #6
    im invisible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,372 ✭✭✭im invisible


    Tesco Massacre wrote: »
    My mate calls his parents Ann and Declan. What's up with that?
    tis weird allright, especially since thier names are Mary and Tom


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  • #7
    Oranage2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,128 ✭✭✭✭Oranage2


    The Davestator wrote: »
    My 13th year old daughter asked me today the following question that I could not answer;

    If my dads dad is called 'Grandfather', why is my uncle's uncle called my 'great uncle'

    Why is her Dad's dad not called her great dad?

    (you need to be sober to participate in this thread)!

    Because he's your 'great dad'


  • #8
    thetonynator
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭thetonynator


    Two generations back is Granddad or Granduncle.

    The next generation back is Great Granddad or Great Granduncle.

    I've only seen Great Uncle used in American books really, not sure if it is an american thing.


  • #9
    The Davestator
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,537 ✭✭✭The Davestator


    Suryavarman wrote: »
    Always went for grand uncle myself.

    Only one I've ever heard of doing this!


  • #10
    senorwipesalot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,458 ✭✭✭senorwipesalot


    isnt it pronounced grand with a silent d?


  • #11
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    The Davestator wrote: »
    My 13th year old daughter asked me today the following question that I could not answer;

    If my dads dad is called 'Grandfather', why is my uncle's uncle called my 'great uncle'

    Why is her Dad's dad not called her great dad?

    (you need to be sober to participate in this thread)!

    13 daughters in a year!? Impressive! :pac:


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  • #12
    hondasam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,418 ✭✭✭✭hondasam


    Sorry op but I need my serious head for this and I'm to tired to think.


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