maman
/ma.mɑ̃/
The English phrase 'mammy' is translated into French as maman.
maman is the informal, affectionate way for children (and sometimes adults) to say mother.
Meaning: child's name for mother (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
maman is an informal term. You may also use the phrase Maman chérie to mean 'dear mommy'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ma.mɑ̃/ and has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- French has a distinct word for 'stepmother', belle-mère, which literally translates to 'beautiful mother' regardless of the relationship's quality.
- The word maman shares a common ancestor with the English 'mammal', as both stem from the ancient root for 'breast' or 'mother'.
- In some French-speaking regions, particularly in parts of Africa, the nuance of using maman can carry even deeper respect or even spiritual connotations than in France.
Examples in context
- Je t'aime, maman.I love you, mom.
- Maman chérie, peux-tu me faire un câlin ?Dear mommy, can you give me a hug?
- Je suis fatigué, maman chérie.I'm tired, dear mommy.
- Je cherche ma maman.I am looking for my mommy.
- Maman, tu peux m'aider ?Mommy, can you help me?
- Ma maman est très gentille.My mommy is very kind.
Example conversation
A small child is looking for his mother in a park.
- NathanMaman ! Où es-tu ?Mommy! Where are you?
- EmmaJe suis juste ici, Nathan.I am right here, Nathan.
- NathanMaman, j'ai eu peur.Mommy, I was scared.
- EmmaNe t'inquiète pas, mon chéri.Don't worry, my darling.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mammy” translations and entries maman, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maman, CC BY-SA 4.0.
