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mamá

ma-MAmaˈma

“mamá” means “mom” in Spanish (Affectionate, common term).

mom

Also: mommy, ma
NounfA1informal
Latin America
A warm illustration of a mother with brown hair hugging her young child, both are smiling.

📝 In Action

Mi mamá me lee un cuento cada noche.

A1

My mom reads me a story every night.

¡Mamá, mira lo que dibujé!

A1

Mom, look what I drew!

Voy a llamar a mi mamá.

A2

I'm going to call my mom.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • mamá gallina – mother hen (an overprotective mom)
  • hijo de mamá – mama's boy

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: mamá

Question 1 of 1

What is the most important difference between 'mamá' and 'mama' (no accent)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
madre(mother) — Noun
maternal(maternal) — Adjective
maternidad(maternity, motherhood) — Noun
amamantar(to breastfeed) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
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📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'mamma', which meant 'breast' or 'mother'. It's a 'nursery word' – a simple, repetitive sound (ma-ma) that's easy for babies to say, which is why similar words for 'mom' exist in many languages around the world.

First recorded: Ancient

Cognates (Related words)

French: mamanItalian: mammaEnglish: mama/mom

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'mamá' to talk about someone else's mom?

Yes, absolutely! You can say 'la mamá de mi amigo' (my friend's mom). It's the standard, friendly word to use.

Is it okay for an adult to call their mother 'mamá'?

Yes, it's very common for adults of all ages to call their mothers 'mamá'. It's a term of affection used throughout life.