Dadu
Dadu means grandfather in Bengali, Hindi, and several other Indian languages — an affectionate term used by grandchildren.
If your child asks about dadu, tell them: "Dadu means grandfather — in some Indian families, that's what children call their father's father." Then ask them: "What would you want to do with your dadu if you had a whole afternoon together?" Their answer often reveals what they miss most.
"Dadu" is one of the most warm and widely used words for grandfather in India. In Bengali families, dadu often plays a special role — telling stories, teaching rhymes, and being the quiet anchor of the household. The same word is used across Hindi, Bengali, and Odia, making it one of the most universally understood Indian family words.
"Every evening, Dadu sat by the window and told me stories of his childhood in Kolkata."
"The whole house knew when Dadu was upset — he would sit on the veranda and hum an old Rabindra Sangeet."
"My dadu taught me how to fly a kite on the terrace, his hands steadier than mine."
"Even at ninety, Dadu insisted on walking to the temple every morning without help."
"After Dadu passed, we kept his reading glasses on the same shelf, as if he might still need them."
Learners sometimes confuse dadu with dadi (grandmother) — they have the same root but refer to different people. Use dadu for grandfather and dadi for grandmother.
What does "Dadu" mean?
Dadu means grandfather in Bengali, Hindi, and several other Indian languages — an affectionate term used by grandchildren. If your child asks about dadu, tell them: "Dadu means grandfather — in some Indian families, that's what children call their father's father." Then ask them: "What would you want to do with your dadu if you had a whole afternoon together?" Their answer often reveals what they miss most.