أهلا ماما
ahla mama/ʔah.lan maː.maː/word by word
The English phrase "hi mum" is translated into Arabic as أهلا ماما (ahla mama).
This phrase is an informal greeting used when speaking to one's mother.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is ahla mama.
Did you know?
- If you were to use the formal version of this greeting, you would be using the word أهلاً وسهلاً, which literally translates to 'coming to your people and a plain level land'.
- Arabic has several words for 'mother' that carry different emotional weights, from the formal والدة ('biological mother') to the intimate ماما.
- Across the Arab world, ماما is understood regardless of the local dialect because it is derived from universal baby talk rather than formal Arabic roots.
Examples in context
- أهلا ماما، كيف حالك؟Ahlan mama, kayfa haluki?Hi mum, how are you?
- أهلا ماما، لقد وصلت.Ahlan mama, laqad wasaltu.Hi mum, I have arrived.
- أهلا ماما، هل أنتِ مستعدة؟Ahlan mama, hal anti musta'idda?Hi mum, are you ready?
Example conversation
Ziad enters the kitchen to greet his mother.
- زياد Ziadأهلا ماما، ماذا تطبخين؟Ahlan mama, madha tatbukhin?Hi mum, what are you cooking?
- نور Nourأهلا يا زياد، أنا أطبخ المعكرونة.Ahlan ya Ziyad, ana atbukh al-ma'karona.Hi Ziad, I am cooking pasta.
- زياد Ziadرائحتها جميلة جداً!Ra'ihatuha jamila jiddan!It smells very good!
- نور Nourشكراً لك، ستكون جاهزة قريباً.Shukran lak, satakunu jahiza qariban.Thank you, it will be ready soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (أهلا, ماما) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries أهلا, ماما, CC BY-SA 4.0.
