māmā
/maːˈmaː/
māmā is the Hawaiian word for daddy.
māmā is an informal term used to refer to a father, typically in a childish context.
Meaning: (informal, usually childish) father (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/maːˈmaː/
Did you know?
- In the Hawaiian language, the concept of fatherhood is often tied to the word makua, which is a gender-neutral term meaning 'parent'.
- The term māmā was formed through reduplication, a linguistic process where a sound or syllable is repeated to create a new word.
Examples in context
- Ke aloha nui nei iāʻoe, dada!I love you, daddy
Example conversation
Kiana and Koa are playing in the yard.
- KianaAia māmā?Is daddy there?
- KoaʻAe, aia oia.Yes, he is.
- KianaHe aha ka hana o māmā?What is daddy doing?
- KoaHana oia i ka māla.He is working in the garden.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry māmā, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries māmā, CC BY-SA 4.0.
