mamá
/maˈma/
The Spanish word for mom is mamá.
mamá is an informal way to refer to a mother.
Which one should you use?
While mamá is the informal equivalent of mom, the term madre is used for the more formal or standard word mother.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the word plural, use the form mamás.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈma/
Did you know?
- The accent mark on the final 'a' in mamá is crucial because without it, the word mama means 'breast' or 'sucks'.
- In certain Spanish-speaking Caribbean contexts, a person might refer to an older woman as mamá or mamita as a term of endearment, even if they are not biologically related.
- While madre is the formal term, it is also used in slang phrases like está hasta la madre, which means something is excessive or annoying.
Examples in context
- Quiero a mi mamá.I love my mom.This sentence shows how to express affection for your mamá.Tatoeba #651402 by Shishir, translation #2011109 by Shishir
- Mi mamá me cocina.My mom cooks for me.This sentence illustrates the use of mamá when talking about someone cooking for you.Tatoeba #2139151 by hayastan, translation #9364454 by Nylez
- ¿Qué dijo tu mamá?What did your mom say?This sentence is useful for asking a question about what someone's mamá said.Tatoeba #6673570 by UsuarioX, translation #3573387 by Hybrid
- 185 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking on the phone about a family visit.
- Sofía¿Viene tu mamá a la fiesta?Is your mom coming to the party?
- AlejandroSí, mi mamá vendrá con nosotros.Yes, my mom will come with us.
- SofíaQué bueno que mamá pueda venir.It is good that mom can come.
- AlejandroElla está muy emocionada por verte.She is very excited to see you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mamá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
