# mama
## English
### 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: /məˈmɑː/
* Audio (Southern England):(file)
* (General American) enPR: mäʹmə, IPA: /ˈmɑmə/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: (General American) -ɑːmə, (UK) -ɑː

### Noun

mama (plural mamas)
* (hypocoristic, usually childish, Canada, US) Mother, female parent.
** 1990, Prince, “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

* baby-mama
* baby mama
* big mama
* crunchy mama
* hoochie mama
* mama-bear
* mama bear
* mama grizzly
* mama pad
* mama-pian
* mama put
* mama-san
* mama shop
* save the drama for your mama
* scrunchy mama
* silky mama
* sugar mama
* yo mama

#### Related terms

* mom
* mommy
* mother
* mum
* mummy

#### Translations
### 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: /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
    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) .

#### Declension
### References

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

### Further reading

* “mama” in Obastan.com.

## 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: /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: /maˈmaʔ/ [maˈmaʔ]

#### Noun

mamâ
* betel nut

##### Derived terms

* magmama
* mamaon

## Brunei Malay
### Noun

mama
* A mother.
    Synonym: babu

## Catalan
### Etymology 1

From Latin mamma.

#### Pronunciation

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

#### Noun

mama f (plural mames)
* (informal) mom
* (anatomy) mamma

##### Derived terms

* càncer de mama (“breast cancer”)

##### Related terms

* mamar
* mamari
* mamella
* mare

#### Further reading

* “mama” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
* “mama”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
* “mama” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
* “mama” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

### Etymology 2
#### Verb

mama
* inflection of mamar:
** third-person singular present indicative
** 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

### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)
* IPA: /ˈmɑmaː/
* (Belgium) IPA: /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 1

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese mama, from Latin mamma.

#### Noun

mama f (plural mamas)
* (anatomy) mamma, breast

##### Related terms

* mamar
* mamífero

### Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

#### Verb

mama
* inflection of mamar:
** third-person singular present indicative
** second-person singular imperative

## Garo
### Etymology

Likely from Bengali মামা (mama)

### Noun

mama
* maternal uncle
* husband of aunt
* father-in-law
* brother of father-in-law

#### 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: /màː.má/
** (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA: [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: /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: [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

#### Derived terms

* kismama
* nagymama
* pótmama

### Further reading

* mama in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN

## Ido
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈmama/

### Noun

mama (plural mamai)
* mama, mom, mommy, mum
    Synonym: matro
    Coordinate terms: papa, patro

## Ilocano
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /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: /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:
** (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
** (meteorology) an accessory cloud like a mammary in appearance, which can form on the underside of most cloud genera

### Further reading

* “mama” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

## Ingrian
### Etymology

Borrowed from Russian мама (mama).

### Pronunciation

* (Ala-Laukaa) IPA: /ˈmɑmɑ/, [ˈmɑmɑ]
* (Soikkola) IPA: /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.

#### 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

bare forms
singular
plural
nominative
mama
mamaí
vocative
a mhama
a mhamaí
genitive
mama
mamaí
dative
mama
mamaí
forms with the definite article
singular
plural
nominative
an mama
na mamaí
genitive
an mhama
na mamaí
dative
leis an mama don mhama
leis na mamaí :

### Mutation

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

### Further reading

* Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “mama”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
* Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “mama”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
* “mama”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2025

## Istriot
### Etymology

From Latin mamma.

### Noun

mama f
* mom, mamma, mother

#### See also

* mare

## 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: [ˈmaːma]

### Etymology 1
#### Verb

mama
* to chew betel

### Etymology 2
#### Noun

mama
* to mother

### References

* Allahverdi Verdizade (2019) “mama”, in Lamboya word list‎, Leiden: LexiRumah

## Latgalian
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈmama]
* Hyphenation: ma‧ma

### Noun

mama f (diminutive mameņa)
* (colloquial) mum, mummy

#### Declension

$^{1)}$ 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

#### 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: [ˈmama]

### Noun

mama f (diminutive maminka)
* mother, mom

#### Declension
### Further reading

* Muka, Arnošt (1921, 1928) “mama”, in Słownik dolnoserbskeje rěcy a jeje narěcow (in German), St. Petersburg, Prague: ОРЯС РАН, ČAVU; Reprinted Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag, 2008
* Starosta, Manfred (1999) “mama”, in Dolnoserbsko-nimski słownik / Niedersorbisch-deutsches Wörterbuch (in German), Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag

## 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
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /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

## Mwani
### Noun

mama
* mother

## Nigerian Pidgin
### Noun

mama
* mother

## Old Galician-Portuguese
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈmama/
* Rhymes: -ama
* Hyphenation: ma‧ma

### Etymology 1

Inherited from Latin mamma.

#### Noun

mama f (plural mamas)
* breast
* teat; udder

##### Related terms

* mamar
* mamoa
* mamyllo

##### Descendants

* Galician: mama
* Portuguese: mama

### Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

#### Verb

mama
* inflection of mamar:
** third-person singular present indicative
** second-person singular imperative

### References

* Antônio Geraldo da Cunha (2020–2025) “mama”, in Vocabulário histórico-cronológico do Português Medieval (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa

## Old Polish
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: (10th–15th CE) /mama/
* IPA: (15th 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, 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

* 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

* 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
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /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: [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
### Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish mama.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈma.ma/
* (Middle Polish) IPA: /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

#### Derived terms

* bajzelmama
* burdelmama
* tata z mamą

### 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.

### 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

### Further reading

* mama in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
* mama in Polish dictionaries at PWN
* Maria Renata Mayenowa, Stanisław Rospond, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Hrabec, Władysław Kuraszkiewicz (2010-2023) “mama”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]
* Magdalena Majdak (19.02.2015) “MAMA”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century]
* Samuel Bogumił Linde (1807–1814) “mama”, in Słownik języka polskiego
* Aleksander Zdanowicz (1861) “mama”, in Słownik języka polskiego, Wilno 1861
* J. Karłowicz, A. Kryński, W. Niedźwiedzki, editors (1902), “mama”, in Słownik języka polskiego (in Polish), volume 2, Warsaw, page 868
* mama in Narodowy Fotokorpus Języka Polskiego

## Portuguese
### Alternative forms

* mamma (pre-standardization spelling)

### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈmɐ̃.mɐ/
* (Brazil) IPA: /ˈmɐ̃.mɐ/
** (Southern Brazil) IPA: /ˈmɐ.ma/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈmɐ.mɐ/
* (Portugal) IPA: /ˈmɐ.mɐ/
** (Northern Portugal) IPA: /ˈma.mɐ/
* Rhymes: (Portugal) -ɐmɐ, (Brazil) -ɐ̃mɐ
* Hyphenation: ma‧ma

### Etymology 1

Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese mama, from Latin mamma. Compare Galician mama.

#### Noun

mama f (plural mamas)
* (human) breast, bosom
* (animal) udder, teat

##### Derived terms

* mamão
* mamica
* maminha

##### Related terms

* mamar
* mamilo

### Etymology 2
#### Verb

mama
* inflection of mamar:
** third-person singular present indicative
** second-person singular imperative

## Quechua
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /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

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

* hatun mama
* mamacha
* mamaku
* mamakuna
* Pacha Mama
* qucha mama

#### See also

* ayllu

## 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

#### See also

* nyoko (“your mother”)
* nyina (“his/her mother”)
* data (“my father”)

## Sardinian
### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈmama/

### Noun

mama f (plural mamas) (Limba Sarda Comuna)
* mother

### See also

* babbu
* tzia

## Serbo-Croatian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /mâma/
* Hyphenation: ma‧ma

### Noun

mȁma f (Cyrillic spelling ма̏ма)
* mom

#### Declension
## Silesian
### Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish mama.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈma.ma/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -ama
* Syllabification: ma‧ma

### Noun

mama f
* (colloquial) mom, mother
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:muter
    Coordinate terms: see Thesaurus:fater

#### Related terms

* mamczyć impf

### Further reading

* mama in dykcjonorz.eu
* mama in silling.org

## 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: [ˈmama]

### Noun

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

#### Derived terms

* mami f
* mamička f
* mamina f

### Further reading

* “mama”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2025

## Spanish
### Etymology

From Latin mamma.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈmama/ [ˈma.ma]
* Rhymes: -ama
* Syllabification: ma‧ma

### Noun

mama f (plural mamas)
* (anatomy) mamma, breast
    Synonyms: pecho, seno

#### Related terms

* mamar
* mamífero

### Verb

mama
* inflection of mamar:
** third-person singular present indicative
** second-person singular imperative

### Further reading

* “mama”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

## Sranan Tongo
### Alternative forms

* m'ma
* mma

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /mːa/, /maˈma/

### Noun

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

#### Derived terms

* granmama
* gronmama
* Mama Aisa
* Mama Sranan
* mamabere
* mamafoto
* mamafowru
* mamakaw
* mamakerki
* mamakondre
* mamapanpan
* mamapima
* mamasroto
* mamatongo
* mamawèt
* watramama
* yesimama

#### Descendants

* → Dutch: mapangpang

## Swahili
### 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 Chamorro måma' and Malay mamak.

#### Pronunciation

* (Standard Tagalog) IPA: /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

#### See also

* ale

### 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: /maˈma/ [mɐˈma] (Spanish pronunciation)
*** Rhymes: -a
** IPA: /mama/ [ma.ma] (Hokkien pronunciation)
*** Rhymes: -ama
** IPA: /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

##### Derived terms

* asukal de mama

### 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: /maˈmaʔ/ [mɐˈmaʔ]
* Rhymes: -aʔ
* Syllabification: ma‧ma

#### Noun

mamâ (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋ)
* betelnut chewing

##### Derived terms

* magmam-in
* mam-in
* maminan
* mangmama
* palamam-an
* palamam-inan
* palamama
* pamama
* pamamain

##### See also

* buyo
* hitso
* ikmo
* itmo
* nganga
* sama

### Etymology 4
#### Pronunciation

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

#### Noun

mamâ (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜋ) (obsolete)
* name of the Baybayin letter ᜋ (ma), corresponding to "ma"

#### See also

* ma

### Further reading

* “mama”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018
* San Buena Ventura, Fr. Pedro de (1613) Juan de Silva, editor, Vocabulario de lengua tagala: El romance castellano puesto primero‎, La Noble Villa de Pila
** page 173: “Comer) Mama (pc) buyo”
** page 400: “M) Mama (pc) letra del .A.b.c. Tagalog .|. mama yaon .|. ᜋ . ſumulat ca nang mama nang iniõg ſulat, eſcriue la. M. de bueſtra eſcritura, yſulat mo aco nang mama, eſcriueme vna .M.”
** page 575: “Tio) Mama (pp) llamandole el ſobrino y como en Eſpañol vſamos llamar tio al hias viejo, tambien lo vſan eſtos y diçen, mama ay, ola tio, yaring ſi mama a, eſte mi tio.”

### 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: [mɑˈmɑ]
* Hyphenation: ma‧ma

### Noun

mama (definite accusative mamayı, plural mamalar)
* baby food
* pet food
* food (in child's language)

#### Declension

singular
plural
nominative
mama
mamalar
definite accusative
mamayı
mamaları
dative
mamaya
mamalara
locative
mamada
mamalarda
ablative
mamadan
mamalardan
genitive
mamanın
mamaların
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: [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: /ˈmama/

### Noun

mama f (diminutive mamička or mamimka)
* mama, mommy, mum

#### Related terms

* mać
* maćerka

## 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: /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, Pacific linguistics

## Ye'kwana
### Alternative forms

* maama (Caura River dialect)

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [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: /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