ماما
māmā/mɑː.mɑː/
The Urdu word for "mama" is ماما (māmā).
ماما is a term used to refer to one's mother.
Which one should you use?
While ماما is used, امی (ammi) is a more common and traditional way to address one's mother in Urdu-speaking households.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Aayi is a regional variation used interchangeably with ammi meaning mother.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /mɑː.mɑː/ (māmā). It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In many South Asian languages, including Urdu, the word ماما (māmā) actually refers to a maternal uncle rather than a mother.
- In some South Asian cultures, the maternal uncle ماما is traditionally viewed as a more indulgent or lenient figure than the father.
- The term ماما (māmā) has roots in Proto-Dravidian, suggesting its use in the subcontinent predates the arrival of Indo-Aryan languages.
Example conversation
A child asking his mother for help in the kitchen.
- عائشہ Ayeshaماما، کیا آپ میری مدد کریں گی؟Mama, kya aap meri madad karein gi?Mama, will you help me?
- علی Aliہاں علی، بتاؤ کیا بات ہے؟Haan Ali, batao kya baat hai?Yes Ali, tell me what is it?
- عائشہ Ayeshaمجھے یہ گلاس نہیں مل رہا۔Mujhe yeh glass nahi mil raha.I cannot find this glass.
- علی Aliیہ دیکھو، یہ یہاں رکھا ہے۔Yeh dekho, yeh yahan rakha hai.Look, it is kept here.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ماما, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ماما, CC BY-SA 4.0.
