What does Miguel call his grandmother?

Miguel calls his grandmother Abuelita.

In Coco, Abuelita Elena is Miguel’s grandmother and one of the strictest guardians of the Rivera family’s ban on music. She loves her family deeply, but her anger toward music comes from the story passed down through generations: Miguel’s great-great-grandfather left Imelda and their daughter Coco while pursuing a career as a musician.

Abuelita is a Spanish word meaning “little grandmother” and is commonly used as an affectionate term for a grandmother. Elena is her given name, so characters may call her Abuelita Elena. She is distinct from Mamá Coco, who is Miguel’s great-grandmother and Elena’s mother.

The family relationships can be confusing because several characters use Spanish titles. Mamá Imelda is Miguel’s deceased great-great-grandmother, Mamá Coco is his great-grandmother, and Abuelita Elena is his grandmother. By the end, Elena helps accept Miguel’s musical identity and the family lifts its ban on music.