māmā
/maːˈmaː/
The Hawaiian word for mama is māmā.
māmā is an informal and affectionate way to refer to a mother, similar to the English terms 'mommy' or 'mama'.
Which one should you use?
While māmā is an affectionate, informal term, makuahine is the more formal or standard word for mother. To refer to a father, the standard word is makuakāne.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
māmā is an informal term used in affectionate contexts. For more formal situations or standard communication, use makuahine.
How do you pronounce it?
/maːˈmaː/
Did you know?
- The formal word for father, makuakāne, uses the root kāne, which is also the name of the Hawaiian god of creation and procreation.
- In Hawaiian culture, the role of a mother extends beyond the biological parent to include any female elder or aunt who helps raise a child.
- While māmā refers to a mother, the formal word makuahine contains the word hine, which in many Polynesian languages refers to a young woman or girl.
Examples in context
- E komo mai, e makuahine.Welcome, mother.
- He māmā kēia o Leilani.This is Leilani's mother.
Example conversation
Kai is asking Leilani about their mother.
- LeilaniKai, aia māmā?Kai, is mama here?
- KaiʻAe, aia ʻoia.Yes, she is.
- LeilaniHe aha ka māmā e hana?What is mama doing?
- KaiKe hana nei ʻoia.She is working.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry māmā, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
