mamá
/maˈma/
The Spanish word for mom is mamá.
The term mamá is an informal way to refer to a female parent. In many Spanish-speaking countries, mami is also used as an affectionate and informal way to say mom.
Which one should you use?
While mamá is the informal equivalent of mom, madre is the more formal term equivalent to mother. You can also use the diminutive form mamita to express extra affection, which is equivalent to saying mommy or little mom.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈma/
Did you know?
- Depending on the country, using mami for a child can be common, where a mother calls her own daughter mami as a sweet nickname.
- While mamá is an affectionate term, in some Caribbean and Latin American countries, calling a woman mami or mamita can be used as a flirtatious or even seductive term of endearment rather than just a way to address a mother.
- The diminutive mamita is often used not just to show affection, but also to express sympathy or comfort when someone is going through a difficult time, similar to saying 'poor thing'.
Examples in context
- Quiero a mi mamá.I love my mom.This sentence shows how to use mamá to express love.Tatoeba #651402 by Shishir, translation #2011109 by Shishir
- Mi mamá me cocina.My mom cooks for me.This sentence shows how to use 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 shows how to use mamá when asking about what a mother said.Tatoeba #6673570 by UsuarioX, translation #3573387 by Hybrid
- Hoy fui de compras con mi mamáToday I went shopping with my mom
- Gracias, madre, por todo lo que haces por míThank you, mother, for everything you do for me
- Tenemos mucho que celebrar hoy, madrecitaWe have a lot to celebrate today, dear mother
- ¡Mamá, necesito tu ayuda con mi tarea!Mom, I need your help with my homework!
- Mami, ¿cuándo vamos a visitar a la abuela?Mom, when are we going to visit grandma?
- 185 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their family members.
- Lucía¿Cómo está tu mamá, Daniel?How is your mom, Daniel?
- DanielMi mamá está muy bien, gracias.My mom is doing very well, thanks.
- LucíaQué bueno que tu mamá esté bien.It's good that your mom is well.
- DanielSí, ella es una gran mujer.Yes, she is a great woman.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mamá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
