Mother in Different Languages
Discover 'Mother' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'mother' is universal, yet its translations in different languages offer a glimpse into the rich cultural diversity that exists across the globe. A mother is often considered the embodiment of selflessness, love, and sacrifice, making the word 'mother' significant in every language and culture. From the Latin 'mater' to the Sanskrit 'mātā', the term for 'mother' is steeped in history and tradition. In Chinese, the word for mother is 'mā' (妈), while in Japanese, it is 'haha' (母). In African cultures, the term for mother can vary, such as 'nyina' in Swahili and 'mama' in Yoruba. The Inuit people of Greenland have a unique term for mother, 'anaana', reflecting their unique cultural context. Exploring the translations of 'mother' in different languages is not only a linguistic exercise but also an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and diversity of global cultures.
Mother
Mother in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | moeder | ||
| The Afrikaans word "moeder" is cognate with the English word "mother", and both derive from the Proto-Germanic word *môðēr. | |||
| Amharic | እናት | ||
| "እናት" is also used to mean "source of water" or "origin". | |||
| Hausa | uwa | ||
| The word "uwa" in Hausa can also refer to an elderly woman or a female ancestor. | |||
| Igbo | nne | ||
| The Igbo word "nne" can also mean "sister" or "auntie" depending on the context in which it is used. | |||
| Malagasy | reny | ||
| The word "reny" can also mean "female" or "woman" in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | mayi | ||
| Nyanja distinguishes between two words for "mother" "Amayi" for one's biological mother and "Mayi" for the mothers of one's father's and mother's siblings. | |||
| Shona | amai | ||
| "Amai" is a respectful way in Shona to call or refer to an older woman, including one's mother, aunts or sometimes teachers. | |||
| Somali | hooyo | ||
| The word "hooyo" is also used to refer to a female elder or relative, and is a term of respect. | |||
| Sesotho | mme | ||
| The word 'mme' in Sesotho can also refer to a female ancestor or a respected older woman. | |||
| Swahili | mama | ||
| "Mama" in Swahili can also refer to a maternal aunt, paternal grandmother, or any older respected woman. | |||
| Xhosa | umama | ||
| Xhosa 'umama' derives from 'mama,' a Bantu term also meaning 'breast' or 'milk'. | |||
| Yoruba | iya | ||
| Iya, when doubled and pronounced 'Iya-Iya', means 'grandma' in Yoruba. | |||
| Zulu | umama | ||
| In addition to its main meaning, "umama" also means "female elder" or "respected woman" in Zulu. | |||
| Bambara | bamuso | ||
| Ewe | nᴐ | ||
| Kinyarwanda | nyina | ||
| Lingala | mama | ||
| Luganda | maama | ||
| Sepedi | mma | ||
| Twi (Akan) | maame | ||
Mother in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | أم | ||
| أم (umm) in Arabic is also used as a term of endearment for a woman or as a prefix to indicate a female relative. | |||
| Hebrew | אִמָא | ||
| The word "אִמָא" (ima) comes from the root "אם" (em), which also means "mother" in Arabic and many other Semitic languages. | |||
| Pashto | مور | ||
| The word "مور" (mother) in Pashto is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*méh₂tēr, | |||
| Arabic | أم | ||
| أم (umm) in Arabic is also used as a term of endearment for a woman or as a prefix to indicate a female relative. | |||
Mother in Western European Languages
| Albanian | nënë | ||
| "Nënë" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European word for "mother-in-law". | |||
| Basque | ama | ||
| "Ama" also means "wet nurse" or "godmother" in Basque. | |||
| Catalan | mare | ||
| The Catalan word “mare” can also mean "sea" or "pool". | |||
| Croatian | majka | ||
| The Croatian word "majka" derives from the Proto-Slavic word *mati, meaning "mother", and is also related to the Latin word "mater", meaning "mother". | |||
| Danish | mor | ||
| In Danish, "mor" is sometimes used figuratively to refer to a woman who is a source of comfort or guidance. | |||
| Dutch | moeder | ||
| Dutch 'moeder' is derived from Proto-Germanic *mōdēr, meaning 'womb', and is related to English 'mother' and German 'Mutter'. | |||
| English | mother | ||
| The term 'mother' is thought to originate from the Proto-Indo-European root *méh₂tēr, which also means 'maker'. | |||
| French | mère | ||
| In Middle French, "mère" could also mean "stepmother" or "mother superior". | |||
| Frisian | mem | ||
| The Frisian word for 'mother', 'mem', is cognate with other West Germanic languages, but originally meant 'foster-mother'. | |||
| Galician | nai | ||
| "Nai" is also a colloquial term for "girl" in Galician. | |||
| German | mutter | ||
| The word "Mutter" in German is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "mōdēr", meaning "mother or parent", and is related to the English word "mother". | |||
| Icelandic | móðir | ||
| The word 'móðir' is also used to refer to the female head of a household without children. | |||
| Irish | máthair | ||
| Italian | madre | ||
| The Italian word "madre" comes from the Latin word "mater", and its plural form is "madri". | |||
| Luxembourgish | mamm | ||
| In Luxembourgish, the word "Mamm" can also refer to a female goat, as the first syllable in "Mamm" is derived from "Muhme" (goat) | |||
| Maltese | omm | ||
| The Maltese word "omm" also means "wet nurse" or "stepmother" in some contexts. | |||
| Norwegian | mor | ||
| In Nynorsk, "mor" can also mean "aunt" | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | mãe | ||
| The word 'mãe' is a cognate of the Spanish 'madre' and the Italian 'madre', all ultimately deriving from the Latin word 'mater'. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | màthair | ||
| The word "màthair" can also refer to a goddess, a female ancestor, or a spiritual guide in Gaelic tradition. | |||
| Spanish | madre | ||
| In Spanish, "madre" also refers to a female ancestor, a nun, or a metaphorical figure representing a protective or nurturing force. | |||
| Swedish | mor | ||
| The Swedish word "mor" originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *méh₂tēr and signifies the maternal progenitor within the family unit. | |||
| Welsh | mam | ||
| The word "mam" can also be used as a term of endearment for a female friend or relative. | |||
Mother in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | маці | ||
| The word "маці" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "*mati", which also means "mother" | |||
| Bosnian | majko | ||
| In Bosnian, "majko" has a slightly negative connotation when used as a form of address, but it is also used as a term of endearment. | |||
| Bulgarian | майка | ||
| The word "майка" (mother) in Bulgarian also has the alternate meaning of "a natural source of something" or "a place where something originates". | |||
| Czech | matka | ||
| In Czech, the word "matka" can refer to the biological mother, adoptive mother, or godmother of a person | |||
| Estonian | ema | ||
| "Ema" also means "a little" in Estonian. | |||
| Finnish | äiti | ||
| "Äiti" is also a colloquial term for "grandmother" or "wife". | |||
| Hungarian | anya | ||
| The Hungarian word "anya" is likely derived from the proto-Altaic word *en(n)e, meaning "mother" or "female elder." | |||
| Latvian | māte | ||
| The word "māte" also means "stepmother" or "widow". | |||
| Lithuanian | motina | ||
| In some dialects, "motina" can also mean "stepmother" or "aunt". | |||
| Macedonian | мајка | ||
| "Мајка" is also a term of endearment for an older woman in the Macedonian language. | |||
| Polish | matka | ||
| The word 'matka' also has metaphorical meanings, such as 'source' or 'origin'. | |||
| Romanian | mamă | ||
| The word "mamă" in Romanian is thought to come from the Latin "mamma" | |||
| Russian | мать | ||
| The Russian word "мать" (mother) also means "checkmate" in chess and can be used as a swear word for "damn." | |||
| Serbian | мајко | ||
| The Serbian word "мајко" is derived from the Proto-Slavic "*mati", meaning "mother", and has a secondary meaning of "a woman who is like a mother" or "a nurse". | |||
| Slovak | matka | ||
| In Slovak, the word "matka" can also refer to a glass jar or a clay oven. | |||
| Slovenian | mati | ||
| The word "mati" can also refer to a midwife, godmother, or abbess in Slovenian. | |||
| Ukrainian | мати | ||
| In Ukrainian, 'mati' can also refer to 'wet nurse' or 'godmother'. | |||
Mother in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | মা | ||
| The Sanskrit word "mā" may be an origin of the feminine name "Maya" meaning "illusion" | |||
| Gujarati | માતા | ||
| "માતા" (mother) can also mean "mumps" in traditional Indian medicine, an illness that was perceived as a goddess. | |||
| Hindi | मां | ||
| The Hindi word "मां" has a root in the Sanskrit word "मम्" meaning "mine" | |||
| Kannada | ತಾಯಿ | ||
| The word "ತಾಯಿ" (mother) in Kannada is derived from the proto-Dravidian word "*tayi" meaning "to give birth". | |||
| Malayalam | അമ്മ | ||
| The word "അമ്മ" in Malayalam is related to the Sanskrit word "अम्बा" (ambā), which means "mother" or "goddess." | |||
| Marathi | आई | ||
| The Marathi word | |||
| Nepali | आमा | ||
| The Nepali word "आमा" is related to Sanskrit "ambe," which is an appellation of Parvati, the Hindu goddess and Shiva's wife. | |||
| Punjabi | ਮਾਂ | ||
| The word "ਮਾਂ" is also used as a term of endearment for close female friends and relatives. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | මව | ||
| The term "මව" also refers to the feminine aspect of the divine in ancient Sri Lankan culture | |||
| Tamil | அம்மா | ||
| The word "அம்மா" can also refer to a goddess or a deity in Tamil culture. | |||
| Telugu | తల్లి | ||
| The word "తల్లి" also means "nature" or "the earth" in Telugu. | |||
| Urdu | ماں | ||
| In addition to its primary meaning, "ماں" can also mean "the earth" or "the source of life" in Urdu, highlighting the sacred and nurturing role mothers play in society. | |||
Mother in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 母亲 | ||
| 母親 (mother) is also used as a respectful term of address to a woman roughly the same age as one's own mother. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 母親 | ||
| 母親, "mother" in Traditional Chinese, means "parent" in Classical Chinese or "mother" and "child" in Old Chinese. | |||
| Japanese | 母 | ||
| The character '母' can also mean 'female' or 'source' in Japanese. | |||
| Korean | 어머니 | ||
| The word 어머니 (mother) is also used as an interjection expressing surprise or exasperation, similar to "oh my goodness!" | |||
| Mongolian | ээж | ||
| "Ээж" is derived from the proto-Mongolic word for "breast" and can also have the metaphorical meaning of "home". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | အမေ | ||
| "အမေ" is also an affectionate term for an older woman, such as a grandmother or aunt. | |||
Mother in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | ibu | ||
| "Ibu" also has another meaning, "head of something", which is cognate with "ulu" in Malay and "ibu" in other Austronesian languages | |||
| Javanese | ibu | ||
| In the 14th century, "ibu" also referred to the "king". | |||
| Khmer | ម្តាយ | ||
| The word "ម្តាយ" in Khmer also denotes a goddess or a female deity. | |||
| Lao | ແມ່ | ||
| The word "ແມ່" ("mother") in Lao is also used as a prefix to denote respect for women, similar to the English "Mrs." | |||
| Malay | ibu | ||
| "Ibu" also means "centre" in Malay, implying the importance of the mother as the centre of the family. | |||
| Thai | แม่ | ||
| In Thai slang, "แม่" can also refer to a strong or respected woman, similar to the English term "queen." | |||
| Vietnamese | mẹ | ||
| The Sino-Vietnamese word “mẹ” also means mold in Vietnamese. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ina | ||
Mother in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ana | ||
| The term "ana" in Azerbaijani also refers to "grandmother" and can be used as a respectful form of address for older women. | |||
| Kazakh | ана | ||
| The word "ана" ("mother") in Kazakh derives from the ancient Turkic word "ene" with the same meaning, also appearing in other Turkic languages such as Turkish and Kyrgyz. | |||
| Kyrgyz | эне | ||
| "Эне" also refers to the Milky Way and, by extension, the world, the universe. | |||
| Tajik | модар | ||
| The word "модар” also means "source, foundation" and "basis" in Tajik. | |||
| Turkmen | ejesi | ||
| Uzbek | ona | ||
| The word "Ona" in Uzbek also has the alternate meaning of "womb" or "uterus". | |||
| Uyghur | ئانا | ||
Mother in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | makuahine | ||
| It can be broken into maku, which refers to offspring, and wahine, the Hawaiian word for woman. | |||
| Maori | whaea | ||
| "Whaea" in Maori may also refer to a female elder, an ancestor, or the personification of a natural force. | |||
| Samoan | tina | ||
| Tina is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word *tina, meaning 'female breast' or 'milk', and is cognate with the Tagalog word ina, the Malay word ibu, and the Indonesian word ibu. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | ina | ||
| The Tagalog word "ina" (mother) is derived from the Proto-Austronesian word "*inaq", which also means "grandmother". | |||
Mother in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | tayka | ||
| Guarani | sy | ||
Mother in International Languages
| Esperanto | patrino | ||
| "Patrino" also means "godmother" in Esperanto, as it is derived from the Latin word "pater" meaning "father". | |||
| Latin | mater | ||
| "Mater" also means "matter" in Latin, sharing a common root with words like "material" and "matrix". | |||
Mother in Others Languages
| Greek | μητέρα | ||
| "Μητέρα" can also refer to a stepmother, godmother, or other female caretaker in Greek. | |||
| Hmong | niam | ||
| The Hmong word "niam" for "mother" is cognate with the Proto-Hmong-Mien word *ɲaːm² "female, mother, grandmother" and is also used to refer to female animals. | |||
| Kurdish | dê | ||
| In Kurdish, the word 'dê' can also mean 'life' or 'home', reflecting the deep-rooted bond between mothers and the nourishment they provide. | |||
| Turkish | anne | ||
| The Turkish word "anne" is cognate with the English word "aunt" and ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European word for grandmother. | |||
| Xhosa | umama | ||
| Xhosa 'umama' derives from 'mama,' a Bantu term also meaning 'breast' or 'milk'. | |||
| Yiddish | מוטער | ||
| The Yiddish word "מוטער" derives from the Proto-Germanic word for "mother," from which the English term "mother" also came. | |||
| Zulu | umama | ||
| In addition to its main meaning, "umama" also means "female elder" or "respected woman" in Zulu. | |||
| Assamese | মা | ||
| Aymara | tayka | ||
| Bhojpuri | माई | ||
| Dhivehi | މަންމަ | ||
| Dogri | मां | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ina | ||
| Guarani | sy | ||
| Ilocano | inang | ||
| Krio | mama | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | دایک | ||
| Maithili | मां | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯃꯃꯥ | ||
| Mizo | nu | ||
| Oromo | haadha | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ମା | ||
| Quechua | mama | ||
| Sanskrit | माता | ||
| Tatar | әни | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣዶ | ||
| Tsonga | manana | ||