nanay
The Tagalog word for mom is nanay.
Which one should you use?
While nanay is the standard term for mother, ina is used in formal writing or highly respectful contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or literary contexts, use ina. There are several informal ways to address or refer to a mother: Inay, Mama and Mommy. Specifically, Mama is a very common and informal way to address a mother, often used by children or in casual settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'my mom', you place the possessive pronoun ko (my) after the noun nanay, resulting in nanay ko.
Did you know?
- The term nanay is often used as a title of respect for any older woman in a community, regardless of whether she is the speaker's biological mother.
- In traditional Filipino households, the nanay is often considered the 'ilaw ng tahanan' or 'light of the home', symbolizing her role as the emotional center of the family.
- The word nanay contains traces of Philippine Spanish, specifically through the word nana, which is a term for a nanny or nurse in Spanish.
Examples in context
- Ako ang nanay ni Tom.I'm Tom's mom.This sentence shows how to identify oneself as a mother using nanay.Tatoeba #5361320 by kanlaon, translation #2235792 by CK
- Mahal ko ang nanay ko.I love my mom.This sentence shows how to express love for one's mother using nanay.Tatoeba #11606579 by qwertzu, translation #2011109 by Shishir
- Gumagawa ng keyk ang nanay ko.My mom is making a cake.This sentence shows a mother performing an action using nanay.Tatoeba #11817036 by qwertzu, translation #11817026 by ddnktr
- Salamat, Nanay.Thank you, Mom.
- Nanay, maaari po ba akong lumabas?Mom, may I go out?
- Paalam, Inay. Babalik ako mamaya.Goodbye, Mom. I'll be back later.
- Masarap ang luto ni Mama!Mom's cooking is delicious!
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mark and Christina are talking about their families at home.
- MarkNasaan ang nanay mo, Christina?Where is your mom, Christina?
- ChristinaNasa palengke ang nanay ko.My mom is at the market.
- MarkSasama ba si nanay sa atin?Will your mom join us?
- ChristinaHindi, tutulog muna ang nanay ko.No, my mom will nap first.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nanay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
