The child referred to as well as his/her grandparent may be male or female. This term most likely refers to the children of a person's daughter, as explained below:
Mesa Grande dictionary defines paa-aw as, "his son's child", implying that this word can only be used to refer to a man's son's child. The female alternative is paahkaly, "her daughter's child", i.e. a woman's daughter's child. This leaves out a man's daughter's child and a woman's son's child.
Barona Tribal Dictionary lists similar a'aw "son's child" and 'ehkaly "my daughter's child". Other entries from various dialects (mostly Tiipay) include: hkaaw "daughter's child", a'aaw "son's children", 'ishkaaly and htkáwa "daughter's children". In all these examples, the sex of the grandchild's parent, and not that of the grandparent, is specified, strongly suggesting that paa-aw is truly, "his/her son's child", and paahkaly is "his/her daughter's child".