Babushka (Russian: IPA ) is a Russian word meaning "grandmother" and/or "old lady."

English native speakers should note that the stress is on the first syllable, not on the second, meaning the correct way to pronounce the word in Russian is BA-bush-ka, not ba-BUSH'-ka.''

Some American English dictionaries define the word as a "kerchief for the head." But some common usage in the West appears to diverge from the word's currently (2004) recorded definition. "Babushka" is never used in Russia to mean "kerchief for the head"; that's simply платок.

Babushka is also incorrectly used to refer to Matrioshka, or nesting dolls.

The diminutive form of babushka is 'babulya' (бабу́ля).

See also

• Babushka lady
• Babushka was also nickname for Russian revolutionary Catherine Breshkovsky
• Babushka is also the name given to a certain type of Matryoshka doll
• Babushka Adoption Foundation
• "Babooshka", a song by Kate Bush

Old age | Russian loanwords | Russian society

Babuschka | Бабушка