Mom in Different Languages
Discover 'Mom' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word "mom" is a term of endearment and affection that holds immense significance in cultures and families worldwide. It represents love, care, and the special bond between a mother and her child. The translation of this word in different languages not only bridges linguistic gaps but also provides insight into the unique ways various cultures express filial love.
Interestingly, the English word "mom" is derived from the term "mother," which has Germanic roots, while in some languages, the term for mom is similar to "mother," such as in Spanish (»madre») and French (»mère»). However, in other languages, the term is vastly different, like in Japanese, where a mom is referred to as »お母さん (okaasan).
Exploring the translations of "mom" in different languages is a fascinating journey that uncovers the richness and diversity of global cultures. Delve into this captivating world and discover how people from various linguistic backgrounds express their love and appreciation for their mothers.
Mom
Mom in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | ma | ||
| In Afrikaans, the word 'ma' can also be used as a term of endearment for an older woman or a female elder. | |||
| Amharic | እማማ | ||
| Also used as a term of endearment for a woman or a child | |||
| Hausa | inna | ||
| In Hausa, the word "inna" can also refer to a stepmother or an elderly woman. | |||
| Igbo | nne | ||
| The word 'nne' in Igbo can also be used to address a paternal aunt, a female friend or an older woman as a sign of respect. | |||
| Malagasy | neny | ||
| The etymology of the Malagasy word "neny" is uncertain, but it may be derived from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian word "ina". "Neny" can also mean "older female sibling" or "aunt" in some dialects. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mayi | ||
| The Nyanja word 'mayi' can also refer to 'water'. | |||
| Shona | amai | ||
| Amai can also mean "aunt", "grandmother", or "any elderly, respected woman" in Shona. | |||
| Somali | hooyo | ||
| The term "hooyo" in Somali is also used to address a mother-in-law or an elderly woman respectfully. | |||
| Sesotho | mme | ||
| Though "mme" is Sesotho for "mother," it also means "a person deserving respect" or is a title used before a married or widowed woman's name. | |||
| Swahili | mama | ||
| The word "mama" in Swahili can also mean "maternal aunt" or "stepmother." | |||
| Xhosa | umama | ||
| Umama can also refer to the maternal grandmother or any woman who is a mother figure. | |||
| Yoruba | mama | ||
| The word "Mama" in Yoruba can also refer to a female elder or ancestor. | |||
| Zulu | umama | ||
| Zulu 'umama' also means 'mother of the homestead,' signifying the importance of women in Zulu society. | |||
| Bambara | ba | ||
| Ewe | dada | ||
| Kinyarwanda | mama | ||
| Lingala | mama | ||
| Luganda | maama | ||
| Sepedi | mma | ||
| Twi (Akan) | maame | ||
Mom in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | أمي | ||
| In the Quran, "أمي" referred to the followers of the Prophet Mohammed instead of meaning "mother". | |||
| Hebrew | אִמָא | ||
| The Hebrew word for "mom" is "אִמָא" (ima), which is also the word for "nation" and is likely derived from the Akkadian word "ummi" meaning "mother" or "womb." | |||
| Pashto | مور | ||
| In Pashto, "مور" can also refer to elderly women or female ancestors. | |||
| Arabic | أمي | ||
| In the Quran, "أمي" referred to the followers of the Prophet Mohammed instead of meaning "mother". | |||
Mom in Western European Languages
| Albanian | mami | ||
| Although it originates from the Italian word for "mommy", "mami" has become the standard way to address one's mother in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | ama | ||
| Basque 'ama' means 'mom', but also 'wet nurse' or 'godmother' and derives from Latin 'mamma'. | |||
| Catalan | mare | ||
| The Catalan word "mare" originates from the Latin word "mater" and also means "sea". | |||
| Croatian | mama | ||
| The word "mama" is also used in Croatian to refer to a wet nurse. | |||
| Danish | mor | ||
| The Danish word "mor" is related to the English word "mother" and the German word "Mutter." | |||
| Dutch | mam | ||
| The Dutch word "mam" is a variation of "maam," derived from "mama," an affectionate term for mother | |||
| English | mom | ||
| The word 'mom' is derived from the child's first attempts to say 'mother'. | |||
| French | maman | ||
| Derived from the Latin word "mamma" meaning "breast," "maman" may also be used affectionately for any female figure. | |||
| Frisian | mem | ||
| In some varieties of Frisian, the word "mem" is also used to address an elderly woman as a term of respect. | |||
| Galician | mamá | ||
| Galician "mamá" originally meant "breast" but also had the meanings of "mother" or "woman". | |||
| German | mama | ||
| The word 'Mama' is also a term of endearment used to address female figures, such as grandmothers, aunts, and close friends. | |||
| Icelandic | mamma | ||
| "Mamma" (grandmother) derives from Old Norse "amma" (grandmother or mother), with its double "m" possibly influenced by the unrelated "mamma" (mother) | |||
| Irish | mam | ||
| The word "Mam" in Irish is an informal term for "mother" and originates from the archaic Irish word "mammy" meaning "little mother". | |||
| Italian | mamma | ||
| "Mamma" in Italian can also refer to "breast" in the context of breastfeeding or "grandmother" | |||
| Luxembourgish | mamm | ||
| Maltese | omm | ||
| The word "omm" in Maltese derives from the Arabic word "umm" meaning "mother" and also denotes "source" or "origin". | |||
| Norwegian | mamma | ||
| In Norwegian, "mamma" also means "father/dad" to children who are unable to differentiate between parents. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | mamãe | ||
| The Portuguese word "mamãe" for "mom" is likely derived from the Latin "mamma" meaning "breast" or "mother." | |||
| Scots Gaelic | mama | ||
| The Scottish Gaelic word "mama" ("mom") originally meant "nurse" or "foster mother." | |||
| Spanish | mamá | ||
| The word 'mamá' is the Spanish equivalent of 'mom' and is derived from the Latin word 'mamma', meaning 'breast' or 'mother'. | |||
| Swedish | mamma | ||
| "Mamma" in Swedish can also mean "grandmother", although "mormor" is more common. | |||
| Welsh | mam | ||
| Besides meaning "mother," "mam" can mean "an old woman" or a "motherly woman" in Welsh | |||
Mom in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | мама | ||
| The word "мама" also refers to a woman who is not a mother, but who is treated with the same respect and affection as a mother. | |||
| Bosnian | mama | ||
| In Bosnian, "mama" is also used as the affectionate term for a grandmother. | |||
| Bulgarian | мамо | ||
| In Bulgarian, "мамо" can also be used as a term of endearment for an older woman or a close friend. | |||
| Czech | maminka | ||
| In traditional Czech households, a "maminka" is the mistress of the house and also a farmer's wife. | |||
| Estonian | ema | ||
| The word "ema" is also used to refer to a godmother or another person who is regarded as a motherly figure. | |||
| Finnish | äiti | ||
| "Äiti" also means "stepmother" and comes from the word "ätti" which means "nourisher". | |||
| Hungarian | anya | ||
| The word "anya" in Hungarian is derived from the Proto-Ugric word "*ene" meaning "mother", and is a cognate with the Finnish word "äiti" and the Estonian word "ema". | |||
| Latvian | mamma | ||
| In Latvian, "mamma" can also refer to a godmother or a wet nurse. | |||
| Lithuanian | mama | ||
| In Lithuanian, "mama" can also mean "bread" or "food". | |||
| Macedonian | мајка | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning of "mother," "мајка" (majka) can also refer to a nun or a woman of a certain age or social status in the Macedonian language | |||
| Polish | mama | ||
| Mama is also the name for a type of pastry in Poland. | |||
| Romanian | mama | ||
| "Mama" is also used to address female teachers or other respected women, and it is sometimes used as an affectionate term for close female friends. | |||
| Russian | мама | ||
| The word "Мама" is also sometimes used as a term of endearment for women who are not the speaker's mother or in a motherly role | |||
| Serbian | мама | ||
| In Serbian, "мама" (mama) is also used as a term of endearment for female elders or close friends, like "auntie" or "auntie-mom." | |||
| Slovak | mama | ||
| "Mama" can also mean "food" in Slovak slang. | |||
| Slovenian | mama | ||
| The Slovenian word "mama" can also refer to a stepmother, mother-in-law, or godmother. | |||
| Ukrainian | мама | ||
| In the Ukrainian language, the word "мама" is also used as a term of endearment for adult women or as a general exclamation of surprise or frustration. | |||
Mom in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | মা | ||
| The word "মা" in Bengali can also mean "goddess" or "earth". | |||
| Gujarati | મમ્મી | ||
| The Gujarati word "મમ્મી" can also refer to "a sweet, syrupy substance secreted by certain plants" and "a dark resin deposited on plants". | |||
| Hindi | माँ | ||
| The word 'माँ' (mom) is derived from the Sanskrit word 'मातृ' (mother), and is also used as a term of endearment for females in general. | |||
| Kannada | ತಾಯಿ | ||
| ತಾಯಿ, meaning 'mother in Kannada, is derived from the Proto-Dravidian word *taːy, which means 'to nourish'. It is also cognate with the Sanskrit word 'mata', meaning 'mother'. | |||
| Malayalam | അമ്മ | ||
| "Amma" is the feminine form of the Sanskrit word "ama," meaning "raw" or "unprocessed". | |||
| Marathi | आई | ||
| The Marathi word "आई" can also refer to Goddess Laxmi who is considered the Mother of the Universe. | |||
| Nepali | आमा | ||
| The word 'आमा' also refers to a wet nurse or a godmother in Nepali. | |||
| Punjabi | ਮੰਮੀ | ||
| Punjabi word "ਮੰਮੀ" or "mommy" might derive from the Persian word "maman" meaning "mother" or from the Sanskrit word "matr" also meaning "mother". | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අම්මා | ||
| }අම්මා is also used to address a respected female, especially a Buddhist nun. | |||
| Tamil | அம்மா | ||
| The word 'அம்மா' is also used as a term of respect for women, particularly older women. | |||
| Telugu | అమ్మ | ||
| In Sanskrit, "amma" means "mother," and in Tamil, "amma" can also refer to "grandmother." | |||
| Urdu | ماں | ||
| The word 'ماں' originates from the Proto-Indo-European root '*māter*' and is cognate with the English word 'mother'. | |||
Mom in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 妈妈 | ||
| The word "妈妈" in Chinese derives from the sound of an infant's cry to its mother. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 媽媽 | ||
| 媽媽 (妈妈) is also used as a term of endearment for a female friend or relative. | |||
| Japanese | ママ | ||
| In Japanese, | |||
| Korean | 엄마 | ||
| In Korean, 엄마 ('mom') is originally an onomatopoeia derived from the sound of infants calling for their mother. | |||
| Mongolian | ээж | ||
| The word "ээж" (mom) in Mongolian can also mean "aunt" or "female elder". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အမေ | ||
| The term "အမေ" (amay) is also used by the Burmese to refer to a female elder or a teacher who has a maternal relationship with the person she is addressing. | |||
Mom in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | ibu | ||
| The word "ibu" in Indonesian comes from the Austronesian Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root *ibu, meaning "female parent or mother." | |||
| Javanese | ibu | ||
| In Javanese, "ibu" not only means "mother", but also refers to an older married woman as a sign of respect | |||
| Khmer | ម៉ាក់ | ||
| It is also used to refer to female teachers or a woman who is older than the speaker. | |||
| Lao | ແມ່ | ||
| ແມ່ is thought to have originated from the Pali word "mata" meaning "mother". | |||
| Malay | ibu | ||
| The Malay word 'ibu' is cognate with the word 'ibu' in Swahili, both deriving from the Proto-Austronesian word '*ibu' meaning 'mother'. | |||
| Thai | แม่ | ||
| The word "แม่" can also refer to a female teacher, a wet nurse, or a godmother. | |||
| Vietnamese | mẹ | ||
| In Vietnamese, "mẹ" is not only used to address one's biological mother but also to refer to any elderly woman with a nurturing or respected role. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nanay | ||
Mom in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ana | ||
| In Azerbaijani, the word "ana" can also be used as a term of endearment for a sister, a female friend, or a beloved woman. | |||
| Kazakh | анам | ||
| The Kazakh word "анам" means "mom" and is a colloquial form of the more respectful "әже" or "ана." | |||
| Kyrgyz | апа | ||
| The word "апа" in Kyrgyz also has the meaning of "older sister" and is used as a respectful form of address for older women. | |||
| Tajik | модар | ||
| In Tajik, the word "модар" derives from Middle Iranian "mātar-," Old Persian "mātar," and Sanskrit "mātṛ". | |||
| Turkmen | eje | ||
| Uzbek | onam | ||
| "Onam" also means "hope" or "desire" in Uzbek. | |||
| Uyghur | ئانا | ||
Mom in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | makuahine | ||
| "Makuahine," meaning "mother," also refers to a type of bird or a type of wind, depending on the context of use. | |||
| Maori | mama | ||
| The Maori word "mama" also means "nurse" or "female guardian", reflecting the importance of nurturing and caregiving in Maori culture. | |||
| Samoan | tina | ||
| The word "tina" in Samoan can also mean "container" or "box". | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | nanay | ||
| The word "nanay" comes from the Proto-Austronesian word "*ina" meaning "mother" or "female." | |||
Mom in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | tayka | ||
| Guarani | sy | ||
Mom in International Languages
| Esperanto | panjo | ||
| Latin | mater | ||
| Mater in Latin can refer to a mother, a goddess, or a metaphorical source, like the motherland. | |||
Mom in Others Languages
| Greek | μαμά | ||
| The Greek word "μαμά" (mom) originated from the sound babies make while feeding. | |||
| Hmong | niam | ||
| The Hmong word for mom, "niam," which is also pronounced as "niag" in some dialects, is believed to come from the Proto-Hmong-Mien language and also has meanings like "old" and "respected". | |||
| Kurdish | dayê | ||
| The word "dayê" is also used as a general term of address for an older woman. | |||
| Turkish | anne | ||
| "Anne" also means "mother" in Turkish, similar to its primary meaning in English. | |||
| Xhosa | umama | ||
| Umama can also refer to the maternal grandmother or any woman who is a mother figure. | |||
| Yiddish | מאָם | ||
| The Yiddish word "מאָם" also means "uncle" in Hebrew. | |||
| Zulu | umama | ||
| Zulu 'umama' also means 'mother of the homestead,' signifying the importance of women in Zulu society. | |||
| Assamese | মা | ||
| Aymara | tayka | ||
| Bhojpuri | माई | ||
| Dhivehi | މަންމަ | ||
| Dogri | मां | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | nanay | ||
| Guarani | sy | ||
| Ilocano | inang | ||
| Krio | mama | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دایک | ||
| Maithili | मां | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯃꯥ | ||
| Mizo | nu | ||
| Oromo | ayyoo | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ମା | ||
| Quechua | mama | ||
| Sanskrit | माता | ||
| Tatar | әни | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣደይ | ||
| Tsonga | manana | ||