abuela

noun

abue·​la ˌä-ˈbwā-lə 

plural abuelas

: grandmother

—used in English especially by and with speakers of Spanish

Although she was fervently Catholic, my abuela also kept some of the secrets of Cuban syncretism that mix different beliefs and ancient traditions.

—Li Misol

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, going back to Vulgar Latin *aviola, diminutive of Latin avia "grandmother," feminine derivative of avus "grandfather" — more at uncle

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above