מומע
mume[ˈmʊmə]feminine
The Yiddish word for "aunt" is מומע (mume).
The term refers to a parent's sister or a sister-in-law.
Meaning: a parent's sister or sister-in-law (noun)
Which one should you use?
While מומע is the standard term, Tante serves as a formal alternative and Tantele serves as an informal alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
מומע is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
mume
Did you know?
- In many Yiddish-speaking communities, an 'aunt' is not always a biological relative but can be any older woman who plays a maternal or mentoring role in a child's life.
- The Yiddish word מומע is a distant relative of the English word 'mom'. Both words share a Proto-Germanic ancestor that meant both 'mother' and 'aunt'.
- The word מומע is a linguistic fossil of Middle High German, preserving a specific sound and structure that has largely evolved elsewhere.
Examples in context
- מערי איז מײַן מומע.Mary is my aunt.This sentence demonstrates how to identify someone as your מומע.Tatoeba #8805002 by shekitten, translation #8298371 by soliloquist
- ווער איז דײַן מומע?Who's your aunt?This sentence shows how to ask a question regarding someone's מומע.Tatoeba #11189488 by shekitten, translation #6049457 by mailohilohi
- ער רעדט מיט זײַן מומע.He's talking to his aunt.This sentence illustrates the act of speaking with one's מומע.Tatoeba #13991920 by rul, translation #12908833 by rul
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Menachem is introducing his family to Reizel.
- מנחם Menahemדאָס איז מײַן טעטעס שוועסטער, מײַן מומע.Dos iz mayn tetes shvester, mayn mume.This is my father's sister, my aunt.
- רייזל Reizelשלום, מומע! איך בין רייזל.Sholom, mume! Ikh bin Reizel.Hello, aunt! I am Reizel.
- מנחם Menahemמײַן מומע וואוינט אין ניו יארק.Mayn mume voynt in Nyu York.My aunt lives in New York.
- רייזל Reizelזי זעט זייער פֿרייליך.Zi zet zeyer fraylikh.She looks very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “aunt” translations and entries מומע, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries מומע, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
