mama

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mama"

Languages (73)

Aklanon • Amis • 'Are'are • Aukan • Aymara • Azerbaijani • Bavarian • Bikol Central • Brunei Malay • Catalan • Cebuano • Chinook Jargon • Dutch • Ewe • Fijian • Galician • Garo • Guinea-Bissau Creole • Hausa • Hawaiian • Hungarian • Ido • Ilocano • Indonesian • Ingrian • Irish • Istriot • Japanese • Kabuverdianu • Krisa • Laboya • Latgalian • Lithuanian • Lower Sorbian • Maguindanao • Maranao • Martuthunira • Mauritian Creole • Mòcheno • Nigerian Pidgin • Old Polish • Old Slovak • Pali • Panyjima • Papiamentu • Pitjantjatjara • Polish • Portuguese • Quechua • Rapa Nui • Romanian • Rwanda-Rundi • Sardinian • Serbo-Croatian • Silesian • Slovak • Spanish • Sranan Tongo • Swahili • Tagalog • Tetum • Tok Pisin • Tumbuka • Turkish • Turkmen • Upper Sorbian • Venda • Venetan • Wanyi • West Makian • Ye'kwana • Yoruba

Page categories

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:

mama

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

mamma, momma

Etymology

Originally from baby talk. Possibly influenced by Middle English mome (“mother, aunt”), from Old English *mōme, from Proto-West Germanic *mōmā, from Proto-Germanic *mōmǭ (“mother, aunt”), from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂-méh₂, reduplication of *méh₂- (“mother”), related to German Muhme (“aunt”), Latin mamma (“mother, nurse”), Irish mam (“mother”), Lithuanian mama, moma (“mother”).

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /məˈmɑː/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
(General American) enPR: mäʹmə, IPA^(key): /ˈmɑmə/
Audio (US): (file)
Rhymes: (General American) -ɑːmə, (UK) -ɑː

Noun

mama (plural mamas)

(hypocoristic, usually childish, Canada, US) Mother, female parent.
- 1990, Prince (lyrics and music), “Nothing Compares 2 U”, performed by Sinéad O’Connor:
  All the flowers that you planted, mama, in the backyard / All died when you went away

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

mother — see mother

mum — see mum

Anagrams

amma, ma'am

Aklanon

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mamaq, compare Malay mamah.

Verb

mama

to chew (tobacco, betel)

Amis

Noun

mama

father

'Are'are

Etymology

From the prefix ma- and ama.

Noun

mama

father

References

Kateřina Naitoro, A Sketch Grammar of 'Are'are: The Sound System and Morpho-Syntax (2013)

Aukan

Noun

mama

mother
woman
Synonym: uman

Aymara

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ma.ma/

Noun

mama

mother
Mrs., mistress (general respectful address for married women).
tatanak mamanaka ― ladies and gentlemen

Azerbaijani

Pronunciation

Audio: (file)

Noun

mama (definite accusative mamanı, plural mamalar)

(dialectal) paternal aunt ^{[nt. 1]}
Synonym: bibi
mom
Synonym: ana
midwife
Synonym: mamaça

Usage notes

^ (in the dialects of Agjabedi, Agdam, Aghdara, Balakan, Dmanisi, Borchaly, Böyük Qarakilsə, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Goychay, Imishli, Qakh, Qarakilsə, Qazakh, Lachin, Mingachevir, Sheki, Shamkir, Tartar, Ujar, Yevlakh, Zaqatala, Zangilan) .^[1]

Declension

Declension of mama
	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamalar
definite accusative	mamanı	mamaları
dative	mamaya	mamalara
locative	mamada	mamalarda
ablative	mamadan	mamalardan
definite genitive	mamanın	mamaların

Possessive forms of mama
	nominative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	mamam	mamalarım
sənin (“your”)	maman	mamaların
onun (“his/her/its”)	maması	mamaları
bizim (“our”)	mamamız	mamalarımız
sizin (“your”)	mamanız	mamalarınız
onların (“their”)	maması or mamaları	mamaları
	accusative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	mamamı	mamalarımı
sənin (“your”)	mamanı	mamalarını
onun (“his/her/its”)	mamasını	mamalarını
bizim (“our”)	mamamızı	mamalarımızı
sizin (“your”)	mamanızı	mamalarınızı
onların (“their”)	mamasını or mamalarını	mamalarını
	dative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	mamama	mamalarıma
sənin (“your”)	mamana	mamalarına
onun (“his/her/its”)	mamasına	mamalarına
bizim (“our”)	mamamıza	mamalarımıza
sizin (“your”)	mamanıza	mamalarınıza
onların (“their”)	mamasına or mamalarına	mamalarına
	locative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	mamamda	mamalarımda
sənin (“your”)	mamanda	mamalarında
onun (“his/her/its”)	mamasında	mamalarında
bizim (“our”)	mamamızda	mamalarımızda
sizin (“your”)	mamanızda	mamalarınızda
onların (“their”)	mamasında or mamalarında	mamalarında
	ablative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	mamamdan	mamalarımdan
sənin (“your”)	mamandan	mamalarından
onun (“his/her/its”)	mamasından	mamalarından
bizim (“our”)	mamamızdan	mamalarımızdan
sizin (“your”)	mamanızdan	mamalarınızdan
onların (“their”)	mamasından or mamalarından	mamalarından
	genitive
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	mamamın	mamalarımın
sənin (“your”)	mamanın	mamalarının
onun (“his/her/its”)	mamasının	mamalarının
bizim (“our”)	mamamızın	mamalarımızın
sizin (“your”)	mamanızın	mamalarınızın
onların (“their”)	mamasının or mamalarının	mamalarının

References

^ Şirəliyev M. Ş., İslamov M. İ., editors (1999–2003), “mama”, in Azərbaycan dialektoloji lüğəti [Azerbaijani Dialectological Dictionary] (in Azerbaijani), Ankara: Türk Dil Kurumu.

Bavarian

Noun

mama

(Timau) mother, mom, mama

References

Umberto Patuzzi, ed., (2013) Ünsarne Börtar, Luserna: Comitato unitario delle linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien.

Bikol Central

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Hyphenation: ma‧ma
IPA^(key): /ˈmama/ [ˈma.ma]

Noun

máma (masculine papa)

a mother; a (human) female who (a) parents a child (b) gives birth to a baby (c) donates a fertilized egg or (d) donates a body cell which has resulted in a clone. Sometimes used in reference to a pregnant female, possibly as a shortened form of mother-to-be
Synonyms: ina, nanay
a term of address to one's mother, mother-in-law or wife

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Hyphenation: ma‧ma
IPA^(key): /maˈmaʔ/ [maˈmaʔ]

Noun

mamâ

betel nut

Derived terms

Brunei Malay

Noun

mama

A mother.
Synonym: babu

Catalan

Etymology 1

From Latin mamma.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈma.mə]
IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈma.ma]

Noun

mama f (plural mames)

(informal) mom
(anatomy) mamma

Derived terms

càncer de mama (“breast cancer”)

Related terms

Etymology 2

Verb

mama

inflection of mamar:
1. third-person singular present indicative
2. second-person singular imperative

Cebuano

Pronunciation

Hyphenation: ma‧ma

Noun

mama

a mother; a (human) female who (a) parents a child (b) gives birth to a baby (c) donates a fertilized egg or (d) donates a body cell which has resulted in a clone
Synonyms: ina, inahan, nanay
a term of address to one's mother, mother-in-law or wife

Usage notes

Sense 1 is sometimes used in reference to a pregnant female, possibly as a shortened form of mother-to-be.

Chinook Jargon

Etymology

From English mama or French maman.

Noun

mama

mother
Synonym: naha

Coordinate term: papa

Dutch

Etymology

Loaned from French maman^[1]

Pronunciation

Audio: (file)
IPA^(key): /ˈmɑmaː/
(Belgium) IPA^(key): /mɑˈmaː/
Rhymes: -aː

Noun

mama f (plural mama's, diminutive mamaatje n)

mama, mother
Mama, ik heb honger! ― Mommy, I’m hungry!

Synonyms: ma, mam

Synonyms: moeder, moe, (Flemish) moeke

Alternative forms

mamma

Derived terms

mama appelsap

Descendants

Berbice Creole Dutch: mama
Negerhollands: mama, Mama
- → Virgin Islands Creole: muma

References

^ van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “mama”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute

Ewe

Noun

mama

grandmother

Fijian

Noun

mama

ring (for one's finger)

Galician

Etymology

From Latin mamma.

Noun

mama f (plural mamas)

(anatomy) mamma, breast

Related terms

Verb

mama

inflection of mamar:
1. third-person singular present indicative
2. second-person singular imperative

Garo

Etymology

Likely from Bengali মামা (mama)

Noun

mama

Synonyms

mamagipa (formal)
mamatang (formal)

Guinea-Bissau Creole

Etymology

From Portuguese mama. Cognate with Kabuverdianu mama.

Noun

mama

bosom
breast of a woman

Hausa

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /màː.má/
- (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [màː.mə́]

Noun

mā̀ma f (possessed form mā̀mar̃)

mother
Synonym: uwa

Noun

mā̀ma m (possessed form mā̀man)

breast
Synonym: nono

Hawaiian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mamaq.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈma.ma/, [ˈmɐ.mə]

Verb

mama

to chew, masticate (but not swallow)

References

Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “mama”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press

Hungarian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmɒmɒ]
Audio: (file)
Hyphenation: ma‧ma
Rhymes: -mɒ

Noun

mama (plural mamák)

mom, mum
Synonyms: anya, anyu, édesanya, anyuka, anyuci

Coordinate term: papa
(dialectal) grandmom

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamák
accusative	mamát	mamákat
dative	mamának	mamáknak
instrumental	mamával	mamákkal
causal-final	mamáért	mamákért
translative	mamává	mamákká
terminative	mamáig	mamákig
essive-formal	mamaként	mamákként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	mamában	mamákban
superessive	mamán	mamákon
adessive	mamánál	mamáknál
illative	mamába	mamákba
sublative	mamára	mamákra
allative	mamához	mamákhoz
elative	mamából	mamákból
delative	mamáról	mamákról
ablative	mamától	mamáktól
non-attributive possessive - singular	mamáé	mamáké
non-attributive possessive - plural	mamáéi	mamákéi

Possessive forms of mama
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	mamám	mamáim
2nd person sing.	mamád	mamáid
3rd person sing.	mamája	mamái
1st person plural	mamánk	mamáink
2nd person plural	mamátok	mamáitok
3rd person plural	mamájuk	mamáik

Derived terms

Compound words

Ido

Etymology

Borrowed from English mama, French maman, German Mama, Italian mamma, Russian ма́ма (máma), Spanish mamá.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈmama/

Noun

mama (plural mamai)

mama, mom, mommy, mum
Synonym: matro

Coordinate terms: papa, patro

Ilocano

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /maˈma/ [mɐˈma]
Hyphenation: ma‧ma

Noun

mamá (Kur-itan spelling ᜋᜋ)

momma (a betel nut plus other ingredients to be chewed on)
Maiparit ti agtupra ti mama.
Spitting of momma is not allowed.

Indonesian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈmama/
Hyphenation: ma‧ma
Rhymes: -ma, -a

Etymology 1

Originally from baby talk.

Noun

mama (plural mama-mama)

mother: female parent.
Synonyms: biyung, bunda, emak, embok, ibu, ibunda, ibung, indung, mak, mami, mandeh, mbok, umi

Alternative forms

mamah

Etymology 2

Learned borrowing from Latin mamma, from Ancient Greek μάμμη (mámmē).

Noun

mama (plural mama-mama)

mamma:
1. (medicine) breast, udder: The milk-secreting organ of female humans and other mammals which includes the mammary gland and the nipple or teat.
  Synonyms: buah dada, bukit kembar, gunung kembar, payudara, susu, tetek, toket
2. (meteorology) An accessory cloud like a mammary in appearance, which can form on the underside of most cloud genera.

Ingrian

Etymology

Borrowed from Russian мама (mama).

Pronunciation

(Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑmɑ/, [ˈmɑmɑ]
(Soikkola) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑmɑ/, [ˈmɑmɑ]
Rhymes: -ɑmɑ
Hyphenation: ma‧ma

Noun

mama

mum, mama
- 1936, N. A. Iljin and V. I. Junus, Bukvari iƶoroin șkouluja vart, Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva:
  Kana, ka-ka-ka, na, mama, kana.
  A hen, cluck cluck cluck, here, mummy, a hen.

Declension

Declension of mama (type 3/kana, no gradation, gemination)
	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamat
genitive	maman	mammoin
partitive	mammaa	mamoja
illative	mammaa	mammoi
inessive	mamas	mamois
elative	mamast	mamoist
allative	mamalle	mamoille
adessive	mamal	mamoil
ablative	mamalt	mamoilt
translative	mamaks	mamoiks
essive	mamanna, mammaan	mamoinna, mammoin
exessive¹⁾	mamant	mamoint
¹⁾ obsolete ^) the accusative* corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl) ^) the comitative** is formed by adding the suffix -ka^? or -kä^? to the genitive.

Coordinate terms

papa (“dad; papa”)

References

Fedor Tumansky (1790) “мама”, in Опытъ повѣствованїя о дѣянїях, положенїи, состоянїи и раздѣленїи Санкт-Петербургской губернїи [An experiment of an account of the acts, location, condition and division of the Saint Petersburg gubernia], Краткїй словарь ижерскаго, финскаго, эстонскаго, чюдскаго, и ямскаго нарѣчїя съ россїйскимъ переводомъ [A short dictionary of the Ingrian, Finnish, Estonian, Chud and Yamtian dialects with a Russian translation], page 699
Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 295

Irish

Etymology

From Latin mamma.

Noun

mama m (genitive singular mama, nominative plural mamaí)

(literary) breast, pap
(anatomy) mamma
Synonym: faireog mhamach

Declension

Declension of mama (fourth declension)

bare forms
case	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamaí
vocative	a mhama	a mhamaí
genitive	mama	mamaí
dative	mama	mamaí

forms with the definite article
case	singular	plural
nominative	an mama	na mamaí
genitive	an mhama	na mamaí
dative	leis an mama don mhama	leis na mamaí

Mutation

Mutated forms of *mama*
radical	lenition	eclipsis
mama	mhama	not applicable

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Istriot

Etymology

From Latin mamma.

Noun

mama f

mom, mamma, mother

Japanese

Romanization

mama

Rōmaji transcription of まま
Rōmaji transcription of ママ

Kabuverdianu

Etymology

From Portuguese mama.

Noun

mama

bosom
breast of a woman

Krisa

Pronoun

mama

you

Laboya

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmaːma]

Etymology 1

Verb

mama

to chew betel

Etymology 2

Noun

mama

to mother

References

Allahverdi Verdizade (2019) “mama”, in Lamboya word list‎^[1], Leiden: LexiRumah

Latgalian

Etymology

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *mā́ˀmāˀ. Cognates include Latvian mama and Lithuanian mama.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmama]
Hyphenation: ma‧ma

Noun

mama f (diminutive mameņa)

(colloquial) mum, mummy

Declension

Declension of mama (type 4 noun)

	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamys, mamas¹⁾
genitive	mamys, mamas¹⁾	mamu
dative	mamai	mamom
accusative	mamu	mamys, mamas¹⁾
instrumental	mamu	mamom
locative	mamā	mamuos
vocative	mama, mam	mamys, mamas¹⁾
¹⁾ dialectal

Synonyms

(more formal) muote

Coordinate terms

tēte (“dad”)

References

A. Andronov, L. Leikuma (2008) Latgalīšu-Latvīšu-Krīvu sarunu vuordineica, Lvava, →ISBN, page 10

Lithuanian

Etymology

A nursery word. From Proto-Balto-Slavic *mā́ˀmāˀ, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂-méh₂, a reduplication of *méh₂- - the root of *méh₂tēr (“mother”).

Cognate with Proto-Slavic *mama, German Muhme (“aunt”), Latin mamma (“mother, nurse”), Irish mam (“mother”) among others.

Noun

mamà f (plural mãmos) stress pattern 4

mother

Declension

Declension of mamà

	singular (vienaskaita)	plural (daugiskaita)
nominative (vardininkas)	mamà	mãmos
genitive (kilmininkas)	mamõs	mamų̃
dative (naudininkas)	mãmai	mamóms
accusative (galininkas)	mãmą	mamàs
instrumental (įnagininkas)	mamà	mamomìs
locative (vietininkas)	mamojè	mamosè
vocative (šauksmininkas)	mãma	mãmos

Related terms

mamýtė, mamẽlė (diminutive)

Lower Sorbian

Etymology

A nursery word. From Proto-Slavic *mama, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *mā́ˀmāˀ, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂-méh₂, a reduplication of *méh₂- - the root of *méh₂tēr (“mother”).

Cognate with German Muhme (“aunt”), Latin mamma (“mother, nurse”), Irish mam (“mother”), Lithuanian mama, moma (“mother”) among others. Cf. Proto-Slavic *tata, *baba.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmama]

Noun

mama f (diminutive maminka)

mother, mom

Declension

Declension of mama

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	mama	mamje	mamy
Genitive	mamy	mamowu	mamow
Dative	mamje	mamoma	mamam
Accusative	mamu	mamje	mamy
Instrumental	mamu	mamoma	mamami
Locative	mamje	mamoma	mamach

Maguindanao

Etymology

From ma- and ama.

Adjective

mama

male

Noun

mama

a male

Maranao

Etymology

From ma- +‎ ama.

Adjective

mama

male (clarification of this definition is needed)

Noun

mama

a male

Martuthunira

FWOTD – 10 April 2014

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /mama/

Noun

mama

paternal uncle (one’s father’s brother)

References

Dench, Alan Charles. 1995. Martuthunira: A Language of the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. Series C-125.

Mauritian Creole

Etymology 1

From French maman.

Noun

mama

mother

Etymology 2

From Hindi मामा (māmā) and Marathi मामा (māmā).

Noun

mama

uncle
Synonyms: chacha, tonton

References

Baker, Philip & Hookoomsing, Vinesh Y. 1987. Dictionnaire de créole mauricien. Morisyen – English – Français

Mòcheno

Etymology

Possibly derived from Middle High German muome, from Old High German muoma, from Proto-West Germanic *mōmā (“mama, mother”), from Proto-Germanic *mōmǭ (“mama, mother; aunt, auntie”). Cognate with German Mama, English mama.

Noun

mama f

mother

References

“mama” in Cimbrian, Ladin, Mòcheno: Getting to know 3 peoples. 2015. Servizio minoranze linguistiche locali della Provincia autonoma di Trento, Trento, Italy.
Patuzzi, Umberto, ed., (2013) Luserna / Lusérn: Le nostre parole / Ünsarne börtar / Unsere Wörter [Our Words], Luserna, Italy: Comitato unitario delle isole linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien

Nigerian Pidgin

Noun

mama

mother

Old Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *màma. First attested in the fifteenth century.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /mama/
IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /mama/

Noun

mama f

(attested in Masovia) mom, mother
- 1950 [1470], Władysław Kuraszkiewicz, Adam Wolff, editors, Zapiski i roty polskie XV-XVI wieku z ksiąg sądowych ziemi warszawskiej, number 1308, Warsaw:
  Yakom ya Malgorzacze, mamye mey, nye szabral dwu szuknyv
  [Jakom ja Małgorzacie, mamie mej, nie zabrał dwu sukniu]
wet nurse, nurse
- Middle of the 15th century, Rozmyślanie o żywocie Pana Jezusa‎^[2], page 12:
  Nye tako, yako ynne panny czynyv, yze schvkaya ynych opczych mam (non ut solent homines extraneam quaesivit nutricem mater puero), alye swe dzyeczatko svymy pyrszyamy karmyla (sc. Anna)
  [Nie tako, jako inne panny czynią, iże szukają inych obcych mam (non ut solent homines extraneam quaesivit nutricem mater puero), ale swe dzieciątko swymi pirsiami karmiła (sc. Anna)]

Derived terms

nouns

mamka

Descendants

Polish: mama
Silesian: mama

References

Boryś, Wiesław (2005) “mama”, in Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (in Polish), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, →ISBN
Mańczak, Witold (2017) “mama”, in Polski słownik etymologiczny (in Polish), Kraków: Polska Akademia Umiejętności, →ISBN
Bańkowski, Andrzej (2000) “mama”, in Etymologiczny słownik języka polskiego [Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language] (in Polish)
B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “mama”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN

Old Slovak

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *mama.

Noun

mama f

mom, mother

Descendants

Slovak: mama

References

Majtán, Milan et al., editors (1991–2008), “mama”, in Historický slovník slovenského jazyka [Historical Dictionary of the Slovak Language] (in Slovak), volumes 1–7 (A – Ž), Bratislava: VEDA, →OCLC

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

𑀫𑀫 (Brahmi script)
मम (Devanagari script)
মম (Bengali script)
මම (Sinhalese script)
မမ (Burmese script)
มม or มะมะ (Thai script)
ᨾᨾ (Tai Tham script)
ມມ or ມະມະ (Lao script)
មម (Khmer script)
𑄟𑄟 (Chakma script)

Pronoun

mama

genitive/dative singular of ahaṃ (“me”)

Panyjima

FWOTD – 2 April 2016

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /mama/

Noun

mama

father
Synonym: papu
paternal uncle (one’s father’s brother)

References

Dench, Alan (1991). "Panyjima", in R.M.W. Dixon and Barry J. Blake: The Handbook of Australian Languages, Volume 4. Melbourne: Oxford University Press Australia, 125–244.

Papiamentu

Etymology

From Dutch mama.

Noun

mama

mother

Pitjantjatjara

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmɐmɐ]

Noun

mama

father
Synonym: punari
father’s older brother or close male friend; uncle
Synonym: mama puḻka
god

Derived terms

mama maḻatja (“father's younger brother; uncle”)
mama ngunytju (“parents”)
maṟa mama (“thumb”)
tjina mama (“big toe”)

Polish

Polish Wikipedia has an article on:

mama

Wikipedia ^pl

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish mama.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈma.ma/

(Middle Polish) IPA^(key): /ˈma.ma/

Audio: (file)
Rhymes: -ama
Syllabification: ma‧ma

Noun

mama f (diminutive (dialectal) mamula)

mum, mom, mother
(Middle Polish) wetnurse
Synonym: mamka
(Middle Polish) nurse, caregiver
Synonym: piastunka

Declension

Declension of mama

	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamy
genitive	mamy	mam
dative	mamie	mamom
accusative	mamę	mamy
instrumental	mamą	mamami
locative	mamie	mamach
vocative	mamo	mamy

Derived terms

nouns

Trivia

According to Słownik frekwencyjny polszczyzny współczesnej (1990), mama is one of the most used words in Polish, appearing 0 times in scientific texts, 0 times in news, 1 time in essays, 17 times in fiction, and 93 times in plays, each out of a corpus of 100,000 words, totaling 111 times, making it the 552nd most common word in a corpus of 500,000 words.^[1]

References

^ Ida Kurcz (1990) “mama”, in Słownik frekwencyjny polszczyzny współczesnej [Frequency dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), volume 1, Kraków, Warszawa: Polska Akademia Nauk. Instytut Języka Polskiego, page 233

Portuguese

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmɐ̃.mɐ/
- (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈmɐ.ma/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈmɐ.mɐ/
- (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈma.mɐ/

Rhymes: (Portugal) -ɐmɐ, (Brazil) -ɐ̃mɐ
Hyphenation: ma‧ma

Etymology 1

From Latin mamma. Compare Italian mammella, French mamelle.

Noun

mama f (plural mamas)

(human) breast, bosom
(animal) udder, teat

Etymology 2

Verb

mama

inflection of mamar:
1. third-person singular present indicative
2. second-person singular imperative

Quechua

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈma.ma/

Noun

mama

mother
Coordinate terms: yaya, tayta, tata (“father”)
madam, lady
Synonym: wayru

Coordinate terms: tayta, tata (“mister”)
(geology) vein
(mathematics) matrix

Declension

declension of mama

	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamakuna
accusative	mamata	mamakunata
dative	mamaman	mamakunaman
genitive	mamap	mamakunap
locative	mamapi	mamakunapi
terminative	mamakama	mamakunakama
ablative	mamamanta	mamakunamanta
instrumental	mamawan	mamakunawan
comitative	mamantin	mamakunantin
abessive	mamannaq	mamakunannaq
comparative	mamahina	mamakunahina
causative	mamarayku	mamakunarayku
benefactive	mamapaq	mamakunapaq
associative	mamapura	mamakunapura
distributive	mamanka	mamakunanka
exclusive	mamalla	mamakunalla

possessive forms of mama

ñuqap - first-person singular

ñuqap (my)	singular	plural
nominative	mamay	mamaykuna
accusative	mamayta	mamaykunata
dative	mamayman	mamaykunaman
genitive	mamaypa	mamaykunap
locative	mamaypi	mamaykunapi
terminative	mamaykama	mamaykunakama
ablative	mamaymanta	mamaykunamanta
instrumental	mamaywan	mamaykunawan
comitative	mamaynintin	mamaykunantin
abessive	mamayninnaq	mamaykunannaq
comparative	mamayhina	mamaykunahina
causative	mamayrayku	mamaykunarayku
benefactive	mamaypaq	mamaykunapaq
associative	mamaypura	mamaykunapura
distributive	mamayninka	mamaykunanka
exclusive	mamaylla	mamaykunalla

qampa - second-person singular

qampa (your)	singular	plural
nominative	mamayki	mamaykikuna
accusative	mamaykita	mamaykikunata
dative	mamaykiman	mamaykikunaman
genitive	mamaykipa	mamaykikunap
locative	mamaykipi	mamaykikunapi
terminative	mamaykikama	mamaykikunakama
ablative	mamaykimanta	mamaykikunamanta
instrumental	mamaykiwan	mamaykikunawan
comitative	mamaykintin	mamaykikunantin
abessive	mamaykinnaq	mamaykikunannaq
comparative	mamaykihina	mamaykikunahina
causative	mamaykirayku	mamaykikunarayku
benefactive	mamaykipaq	mamaykikunapaq
associative	mamaykipura	mamaykikunapura
distributive	mamaykinka	mamaykikunanka
exclusive	mamaykilla	mamaykikunalla

paypa - third-person singular

paypa (his/her/its)	singular	plural
nominative	maman	mamankuna
accusative	mamanta	mamankunata
dative	mamanman	mamankunaman
genitive	mamanpa	mamankunap
locative	mamanpi	mamankunapi
terminative	mamankama	mamankunakama
ablative	mamanmanta	mamankunamanta
instrumental	mamanwan	mamankunawan
comitative	mamanintin	mamankunantin
abessive	mamanninnaq	mamankunannaq
comparative	mamanhina	mamankunahina
causative	mamanrayku	mamankunarayku
benefactive	mamanpaq	mamankunapaq
associative	mamanpura	mamankunapura
distributive	mamaninka	mamankunanka
exclusive	mamanlla	mamankunalla

ñuqanchikpa - first-person inclusive plural

ñuqanchikpa (our(incl))	singular	plural
nominative	mamanchik	mamanchikkuna
accusative	mamanchikta	mamanchikkunata
dative	mamanchikman	mamanchikkunaman
genitive	mamanchikpa	mamanchikkunap
locative	mamanchikpi	mamanchikkunapi
terminative	mamanchikkama	mamanchikkunakama
ablative	mamanchikmanta	mamanchikkunamanta
instrumental	mamanchikwan	mamanchikkunawan
comitative	mamanchiknintin	mamanchikkunantin
abessive	mamanchikninnaq	mamanchikkunannaq
comparative	mamanchikhina	mamanchikkunahina
causative	mamanchikrayku	mamanchikkunarayku
benefactive	mamanchikpaq	mamanchikkunapaq
associative	mamanchikpura	mamanchikkunapura
distributive	mamanchikninka	mamanchikkunanka
exclusive	mamanchiklla	mamanchikkunalla

ñuqaykup - first-person exclusive plural

ñuqaykup (our(excl))	singular	plural
nominative	mamayku	mamaykukuna
accusative	mamaykuta	mamaykukunata
dative	mamaykuman	mamaykukunaman
genitive	mamaykupa	mamaykukunap
locative	mamaykupi	mamaykukunapi
terminative	mamaykukama	mamaykukunakama
ablative	mamaykumanta	mamaykukunamanta
instrumental	mamaykuwan	mamaykukunawan
comitative	mamaykuntin	mamaykukunantin
abessive	mamaykunnaq	mamaykukunannaq
comparative	mamaykuhina	mamaykukunahina
causative	mamaykurayku	mamaykukunarayku
benefactive	mamaykupaq	mamaykukunapaq
associative	mamaykupura	mamaykukunapura
distributive	mamaykunka	mamaykukunanka
exclusive	mamaykulla	mamaykukunalla

qamkunap - second-person plural

qamkunap (your(pl))	singular	plural
nominative	mamaykichik	mamaykichikkuna
accusative	mamaykichikta	mamaykichikkunata
dative	mamaykichikman	mamaykichikkunaman
genitive	mamaykichikpa	mamaykichikkunap
locative	mamaykichikpi	mamaykichikkunapi
terminative	mamaykichikkama	mamaykichikkunakama
ablative	mamaykichikmanta	mamaykichikkunamanta
instrumental	mamaykichikwan	mamaykichikkunawan
comitative	mamaykichiknintin	mamaykichikkunantin
abessive	mamaykichikninnaq	mamaykichikkunannaq
comparative	mamaykichikhina	mamaykichikkunahina
causative	mamaykichikrayku	mamaykichikkunarayku
benefactive	mamaykichikpaq	mamaykichikkunapaq
associative	mamaykichikpura	mamaykichikkunapura
distributive	mamaykichikninka	mamaykichikkunanka
exclusive	mamaykichiklla	mamaykichikkunalla

paykunap - third-person plural

paykunap (their)	singular	plural
nominative	mamanku	mamankukuna
accusative	mamankuta	mamankukunata
dative	mamankuman	mamankukunaman
genitive	mamankupa	mamankukunap
locative	mamankupi	mamankukunapi
terminative	mamankukama	mamankukunakama
ablative	mamankumanta	mamankukunamanta
instrumental	mamankuwan	mamankukunawan
comitative	mamankuntin	mamankukunantin
abessive	mamankunnaq	mamankukunannaq
comparative	mamankuhina	mamankukunahina
causative	mamankurayku	mamankukunarayku
benefactive	mamankupaq	mamankukunapaq
associative	mamankupura	mamankukunapura
distributive	mamankunka	mamankukunanka
exclusive	mamankulla	mamankukunalla

Derived terms

Rapa Nui

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mamaq.

Verb

mama

to chew

Romanian

Noun

mama

definite nominative/accusative singular of mamă

Rwanda-Rundi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mààmá.

Noun

māmá class 1a (plural bāmâmá class 2a)

my mother
my maternal aunt

Sardinian

Etymology

From Latin mamma, from Ancient Greek μάμμη (mámmē).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈmama/

Noun

mama f (plural mamas) (Limba Sarda Comuna)

mother

Serbo-Croatian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /mâma/
Hyphenation: ma‧ma

Noun

mȁma f (Cyrillic spelling ма̏ма)

mom

Declension

Declension of mama

	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mame
genitive	mame	mama
dative	mami	mamama
accusative	mamu	mame
vocative	mamo	mame
locative	mami	mamama
instrumental	mamom	mamama

Silesian

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish mama.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈma.ma/
Rhymes: -ama
Syllabification: ma‧ma

Noun

mama f

(colloquial) mom, mother
Synonyms: see Thesaurus:muter

Coordinate terms: see Thesaurus:fater

Declension

Declension of mama

	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamy
genitive	mamy	mam
dative	mamie	mamōm
accusative	mamã	mamy
instrumental	mamōm	mamami/mamōma
locative	mamie	mamach
vocative	mamo	mamy

Related terms

verbs

mamczyć impf

Slovak

Etymology

Inherited from Old Slovak mama, from Proto-Slavic *mama, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *mā́ˀmāˀ, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂-méh₂, a reduplication of *méh₂- - the root of *méh₂tēr (“mother”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmama]

Noun

mama f (genitive singular mamy, nominative plural mamy, genitive plural mám, declension pattern of žena)

mama

Declension

Declension of mama

	singular	plural
nominative	mama	mamy
genitive	mamy	mám
dative	mame	mamám
accusative	mamu	mamy
locative	mame	mamách
instrumental	mamou	mamami

Derived terms

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin mamma.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈmama/ [ˈma.ma]
Rhymes: -ama
Syllabification: ma‧ma

Noun

mama f (plural mamas)

(anatomy) mamma, breast
Synonyms: pecho, seno

Related terms

Verb

mama

inflection of mamar:
1. third-person singular present indicative
2. second-person singular imperative

Sranan Tongo

Alternative forms

m'ma
mma

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /mːa/, /maˈma/

Noun

mama

mother
(figuratively, in compounds) origin, source, centre, basis

Derived terms

Swahili

Swahili Wikipedia has an article on:

mama

Wikipedia ^sw

Pronunciation

Audio (Kenya): (file)

Noun

mama class IX (plural mama class X)

mother (female parent)
Coordinate term: baba
Respectful term of address for an older woman.

Derived terms

mama mkwe (“mother-in-law”)
mama wa kambo (“stepmother”)
mama mboga (“female vegetable hawker”)
mama ntilie (“female food hawker”)
mama samaki (“female fish hawker”)
mama mdogo (“mother's younger sister”)
mama mkubwa (“mother's elder sister”)

Tagalog

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mama, from Proto-Austronesian *mamah (“father’s brother”). Also possibly borrowed from Sanskrit माम (māma) or from Tamil மாமா (māmā). Compare Malay mamak.

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈmamaʔ/ [ˈmaː.mɐʔ]
Rhymes: -amaʔ
Syllabification: ma‧ma

Noun

mamà (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋ)

a term used in referring to, or in addressing, a male unknown to the speaker
Synonyms: mang, manong
(archaic, familiar) uncle (parent's younger brother)
(archaic, familiar, childish) any relative of the father or mother

Derived terms

mang

Etymology 2

Each pronunciation has a different source:

/maˈma/ from Spanish mamá, adapted from French maman
/ma.ma/ from Hokkien 媽媽 / 妈妈 (mâ-mâ)
/ˈmama/ from English mama / momma

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog)
- IPA^(key): /maˈma/ [mɐˈma] (Spanish pronunciation)
  - Rhymes: -a
- IPA^(key): /mama/ [ma.ma] (Hokkien pronunciation)
  - Rhymes: -ama
- IPA^(key): /ˈmama/ [ˈmaː.mɐ] (English pronunciation)
  - Rhymes: -ama
Syllabification: ma‧ma

Noun

mama or mamá (masculine papa, Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋ) (colloquial, familiar, childish)

mum, mom
Synonyms: ma, ina, nanay, inay, nay, inang, nanang

Etymology 3

From Proto-Philippine *mamaq, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mamaq (“chew without intending to swallow, as betel nut; premasticate food to give to an infant; premasticated food”). Compare Javanese ꦩꦩꦃ (mamah) and Malay mamah.

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /maˈmaʔ/ [mɐˈmaʔ]
Rhymes: -aʔ
Syllabification: ma‧ma

Noun

mamâ (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋ)

betelnut chewing

Derived terms

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /maˈmaʔ/ [mɐˈmaʔ]
Rhymes: -aʔ
Syllabification: ma‧ma

Noun

mamâ (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋ) (obsolete)

name of the Baybayin letter ᜋ (ma), corresponding to "ma"

Anagrams

amam

Tetum

Verb

mama

to chew betel

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English mama.

Noun

mama

mother
Antonym: papa
- 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Port Moresby: Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Jenesis 3:20:
  Man i kolim meri bilong em Iv, long wanem, em i tumbuna mama bilong olgeta manmeri.
  →New International Version translation

Derived terms

mama karim

Tumbuka

Noun

mama class 1a (plural ŵamama class 2)

mother, mom

Coordinate terms

dada

Turkish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [mɑˈmɑ]
Hyphenation: ma‧ma

Noun

mama (definite accusative mamayı, plural mamalar)

baby food
pet food
food (in child's language)

Declension

Inflection

Nominative

mama

Definite accusative

mamayı

Singular

Plural

Nominative

mama

Definite accusative

Dative

Locative

Ablative

Genitive

Possessive forms
Nominative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	mamam	mamalarım
2nd singular	maman	mamaların
3rd singular	maması	mamaları
1st plural	mamamız	mamalarımız
2nd plural	mamanız	mamalarınız
3rd plural	mamaları	mamaları
Definite accusative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	mamamı	mamalarımı
2nd singular	mamanı	mamalarını
3rd singular	mamasını	mamalarını
1st plural	mamamızı	mamalarımızı
2nd plural	mamanızı	mamalarınızı
3rd plural	mamalarını	mamalarını
Dative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	mamama	mamalarıma
2nd singular	mamana	mamalarına
3rd singular	mamasına	mamalarına
1st plural	mamamıza	mamalarımıza
2nd plural	mamanıza	mamalarınıza
3rd plural	mamalarına	mamalarına
Locative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	mamamda	mamalarımda
2nd singular	mamanda	mamalarında
3rd singular	mamasında	mamalarında
1st plural	mamamızda	mamalarımızda
2nd plural	mamanızda	mamalarınızda
3rd plural	mamalarında	mamalarında
Ablative
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	mamamdan	mamalarımdan
2nd singular	mamandan	mamalarından
3rd singular	mamasından	mamalarından
1st plural	mamamızdan	mamalarımızdan
2nd plural	mamanızdan	mamalarınızdan
3rd plural	mamalarından	mamalarından
Genitive
	Singular	Plural
1st singular	mamamın	mamalarımın
2nd singular	mamanın	mamalarının
3rd singular	mamasının	mamalarının
1st plural	mamamızın	mamalarımızın
2nd plural	mamanızın	mamalarınızın
3rd plural	mamalarının	mamalarının

Turkmen

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [maːma]

Etymology 1

Noun

mama

maternal grandmother
term of address for old women

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

mama

smallpox
Synonym: jäjek

Upper Sorbian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmama]

Noun

mama f (diminutive mamička or mamimka)

mama, mommy, mum

Declension

Declension of mama

	singular	dual	plural
nominative	mama	mamje	mamy
genitive	mamy	mamow	mamow
dative	mamje	mamomaj	mamam
accusative	mamu	mamje	mamy
instrumental	mamu	mamomaj	mamami
locative	mamje	mamomaj	mamach
vocative	mama	mamje	mamy

Related terms

Venda

Verb

mama

to suck

Venetan

Etymology

From Latin mamma. Compare Italian mamma.

Noun

mama f (plural mame)

mother
mum, mummy

Wanyi

Etymology

Compare Guugu Yimidhirr mayi.

Noun

mama

(vegetable-based) food

References

Mary Laughren, Rob Pensalfini, Tom Mylne, Accounting for verb-initial order in an Australian language, in Verb First: On the syntax of verb-initial languages (2005)

West Makian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈma.ma/

Noun

mama

mother
Synonym: mamu

Usage notes

The terms mama and mamu are used for referring to a mother, whereas the term yaya is used for addressing one's mother.

References

Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[4], Pacific linguistics

Ye'kwana

Variant orthographies
ALIV	mama
Brazilian standard	mama
New Tribes	mama

Alternative forms

maama (Caura River dialect)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [mama]

Noun

mama

(Cunucunuma River dialect) first-person possessed form of nü

Yoruba

Alternative forms

mọ̀mọ́

Etymology

Probably influenced by English mama, may have existed before contact with English though. Possibly a corruption of mọ̀mọ́.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /mà.má/

Noun

màmá

mother
Synonyms: iye, ìyá, mọ́mì, yèyé, èye
a term of endearment or respect for an older woman or female relative
Synonyms: iye, ìyá, mọ́mì, yèyé

Coordinate terms

bàbá

[2] (in the dialects of Agjabedi, Agdam, Aghdara, Balakan, Dmanisi, Borchaly, Böyük Qarakilsə, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Goychay, Imishli, Qakh, Qarakilsə, Qazakh, Lachin, Mingachevir, Sheki, Shamkir, Tartar, Ujar, Yevlakh, Zaqatala, Zangilan) .^[1]

[1] Şirəliyev M. Ş., İslamov M. İ., editors (1999–2003), “mama”, in Azərbaycan dialektoloji lüğəti [Azerbaijani Dialectological Dictionary] (in Azerbaijani), Ankara: Türk Dil Kurumu.

[3] van der Sijs, Nicoline, editor (2010), “mama”, in Etymologiebank, Meertens Institute

[4] Ida Kurcz (1990) “mama”, in Słownik frekwencyjny polszczyzny współczesnej [Frequency dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), volume 1, Kraków, Warszawa: Polska Akademia Nauk. Instytut Języka Polskiego, page 233

[nt. 1]

[1]

[1]

[1]

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

Aklanon

Etymology

Verb

Amis

Noun

'Are'are

Etymology

Noun

References

Aukan

Noun

Aymara

Pronunciation

Noun

Azerbaijani

Pronunciation

Noun

Usage notes

Declension

References

Further reading

Bavarian

Noun

References

Bikol Central

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Noun

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

Brunei Malay

Noun

Catalan

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

Etymology 2

Verb

Cebuano

Pronunciation

Noun

Usage notes

Chinook Jargon

Etymology

Noun

Dutch

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Alternative forms

Derived terms

Descendants

References

Ewe

Noun

Fijian

Noun

Galician

Etymology

Noun

Related terms

Verb

Garo

Etymology

Noun

Synonyms