German

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈmama/ (commonly)
  • IPA(key): /maˈmaː/ (obsolete, lofty)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -aː

Noun

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Mama f (genitive Mama or (prenominally without an article) Mamas, plural Mamas)

  1. mum, mummy, mom, mommy
    Synonym: Mutti

Usage notes

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  • The word is commonly used with a definite article in most parts of central Germany, southern Germany, and Austria: Wo ist die Mama? – “Where is Mum?” In northern Germany—and generally in writing—no article tends to be used: Wo ist Mama?
  • The genitive Mamas is used before the modified term, without any article or determiner: Mamas Tasche – “Mum’s bag”. This is chiefly northern German usage; the rest of the language prefers: die Tasche von der Mama (as above). — With an accompanying article or determiner, the genitive takes no ending: die Tasche meiner Mama – “my mum’s bag”. This, however, is not common usage in any region; children will say instead: die Tasche von meiner Mama.

Declension

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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  • Mama” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • Mama” in Duden online
  • Mama” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon

Saterland Frisian

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Etymology

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Ultimately a nursery word. Akin to German Mama and English mama.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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Mama f (plural [please provide])

  1. mother, mama

Usage notes

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  • Mama is used to address someone else's mother. To describe the concept of a mother in itself, the word Múur is used, while when addressing one's own mother, the word Mäme is used.

References

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  • Marron C. Fort (2015) “Mama”, in Saterfriesisches Wörterbuch mit einer phonologischen und grammatischen Übersicht, Buske, →ISBN