אמא
íma/ˈ(ʔ)i.ma/
אמא (íma) is the Hebrew word for mama.
אמא is an informal word used by children or adults to address or refer to their mother.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, í-ma, with the stress on the first syllable. The pronunciation is /ˈ(ʔ)i.ma/.
Did you know?
- The root א-מ is used to create the word אמונה, which means 'faith' or 'trust'.
- Hebrew has a specific word, חמות, for a mother-in-law, which shares a root with the word for 'heat' or 'warmth'.
- The word אמא is borrowed from Aramaic, which was the lingua franca of the Near East during the period when many biblical texts were compiled.
Examples in context
- אמא בכתה.Mama cried.This sentence is useful for seeing the word אמא used as a subject in a simple sentence.Tatoeba #2099218 by fekundulo, translation #1447977 by CK
- אמא, בוקר טוב.Good morning, Mama.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use אמא when addressing someone directly.Tatoeba #13424436 by fekundulo, translation #10727733 by CK
- אמא, את יכולה לעזור לי בציור?Mom, can you help me with a drawing?
- אמא, איפה השלט?ima, eifo ha-shelet?Mama, where is the remote?
Example conversation
Noa and Noam are talking in the kitchen.
- נועה Noaנועם, תגיד לאמא שאני רעבה.noam, tagid le-ima she-ani re-eva.Noam, tell mama that I am hungry.
- נועם Noamאמא, נועה רעבה מאוד.ima, noa re-eva me'od.Mama, Noa is very hungry.
- נועה Noaאל תצעק עליה, נועם.al tatzek aleha, noam.Don't yell at her, Noam.
- נועם Noamאני לא צועק, אני רק אומר.ani lo tzo'ek, ani rak omer.I am not yelling, I am just saying.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry אמא, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אמא, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
