ແມ່
mǣ[mɛː˧]
ແມ່ (mǣ) is the Lao word for mom.
ແມ່ is the standard word for mother. It functions both as a general noun to refer to a mother and as a way to directly address your own mother.
How do you pronounce it?
mǣ
When do people say it?
In Lao culture, you can use ແມ່ as a respectful term of address for women who are significantly older than you, even if there is no biological relationship.
Did you know?
- The word ແມ່ shares a root with the word for 'mother' in Ahom, a language spoken by the Ahom people of Assam in India.
- In some traditional contexts, ແມ່ is used in compound words to denote the 'source' or 'origin' of something, similar to how English uses 'mother' in 'mother tongue'.
- Because ແມ່ is used for many older women, a person might be addressed as 'mom' by dozens of strangers in a single day in a traditional Lao market.
Examples in context
- ແມ່ຂອງຂ້ອຍໃຈດີຫຼາຍ.mae khong khoy chai di lai.My mom is very kind.
- ແມ່ຢູ່ບ້ານແລ້ວບໍ?mae yu ban laew bo?Is mom at home already?
- ຂ້ອຍຮັກແມ່ຫຼາຍ.khoy hak mae lai.I love mom very much.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families at a cafe.
- Aແມ່ຂອງເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?mae khong jao sabai di bo?How is your mom?
- Bແມ່ຂອງຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ.mae khong khoy sabai di.My mom is doing well.
- Aດີແລ້ວທີ່ແມ່ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີ.di laew thi mae jao sabai di.It's good that your mom is well.
- Bຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.khob chai lai lai.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ແມ່, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ແມ່, CC BY-SA 4.0.
