How to Say "Mama" in Punjabi - How To Say Guide

ਮਾਂ

mā̃/mä̃ː/

To say mama in Punjabi, use ਮਾਂ (mā̃), the word for mother.

ਮਾਂ is the everyday word for mother, used both when talking to your mother and when talking about her.

How do you pronounce it?

It is romanized as mā̃, and the IPA is /mä̃ː/. It is a single long a sound said through the nose, close to the a in father.

Do not leave out the nasal sound at the end. The vowel is said through the nose, not followed by a full n.

In Punjabi, the word ਮਾਮਾ (māmā) sounds almost identical to ਮਾਂ (mā̃) but means 'maternal uncle'. Using the wrong vowel length or nasalization can accidentally change your mother into your uncle.
Punjabi has a distinct word ਮਾਤਾ (mātā) used specifically in religious contexts or to show extreme respect, separating the biological role from a spiritual one.
In many Punjabi households, if you are speaking about your mother to a stranger, you might avoid using the word ਮਾਂ directly and instead use a respectful title to maintain social etiquette.

ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗੀ ਹੈ।
meri mā̃ bahut chaṅgī hai.
My mother is very good.
ਮਾਂ ਦਾ ਪਿਆਰ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
mā̃ dā piār sab tō̃ vaḍā̃ hundā hai.
A mother's love is the greatest.
ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਂ ਰੋਟੀ ਬਣਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
merī mā̃ rōṭī baṇā rahī hai.
My mother is making food.

Gurpreet and Manpreet are talking about family at home.

ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreet

ਕੀ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਮਾਂ ਘਰ ਤੇ ਹਨ?
kī tuhāḍī mā̃ ghar tē han?
Is your mother at home?
ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreet

ਹਾਂ, ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਹੈ।
hā̃, merī mā̃ andar hai.
Yes, my mother is inside.
ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreet

ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਕਹਿਣਾ।
uhã nū̃ merē vallō̃ sati srī akāl kahṇā.
Give her my respects.
ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ Manpreet

ਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਮੈਂ ਕਹਿ ਦੇਵਾਂਗੀ।
ṭhīk hai, maĩ kahi devāṅgī.
Okay, I will tell her.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏