Which one should you use?
While madre is the standard term for mother, mamá is a more affectionate and common term used within families.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
madre is the standard term, whereas mamá is the informal equivalent, similar to how one would use 'mom' or 'mommy' in English. For even more affection, one might use the diminutive mamita, which translates to 'sweet mommy'. In many Spanish-speaking countries, children or those speaking informally may also use mami.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions of Spain, the colloquial terms ama or amá are used to say 'mother'.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, madre is preceded by the feminine article la when referring to a specific mother. The plural form of madre is madres.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmadɾe/
When do people say it?
When speaking directly to one's mother to show affection, it is common to use the informal term mamá.
Did you know?
- In some very informal slang, particularly in certain Caribbean dialects, a person might use the word mami to refer to a romantic partner or a beautiful woman rather than a mother.
- In Spanish, the word madre is often used in idiomatic expressions to describe something extreme or impressive. For example, ¡Madre mía! is used as an exclamation of surprise or shock similar to 'Oh my goodness!'
- In some Spanish dialects, using the word madre in the phrase está de poca madre can be a very positive slang term meaning 'it is awesome'. However, in other contexts, referring to someone's madre can be a strong insult.
Examples in context
- Mi madre me ama.I am loved by my mother.This sentence shows how to express that one's mother loves them using madre.Tatoeba #1546380 by marcelostockle, translation #1164896 by cntrational
- Esa es su madre.That's his mother.This sentence is useful for identifying someone's mother using madre.Tatoeba #8637006 by pcarolina, translation #8319162 by Amastan
- Ésta es mi madre.This is my mother.This sentence is useful for introducing one's mother using madre.Tatoeba #702614 by Shishir, translation #413771 by Scott
- Hablé con mi madre por teléfono.I spoke with my mother on the phone
- Mi mamá es una mujer muy cariñosa.My mother is a very loving woman
- ¡Mamá, te quiero mucho!Mom, I love you very much!
- Mami, ¿puedes ayudarme con la tarea?Mom, can you help me with my homework?
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños, mamita linda!Happy birthday, sweet mommy!
- 1045 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are talking about their families.
- Javier¿Dónde está tu madre, Lucía?Where is your mother, Lucía?
- LucíaMi madre está en el trabajo.My mother is at work.
- JavierElla es una mujer muy amable.She is a very kind woman.
- LucíaGracias, Javier. Ella también es paciente.Thank you, Javier. She is also patient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries madre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
