umama
[úmaːmá]
The Xhosa word for "mom" is umama.
umama is used to refer to a female parent. It can also be used as a proper noun when addressing one's own mother directly.
Which one should you use?
The form Mam' is an affectionate way to address a mother. When using the word as a proper noun to address your own mother, it is common to capitalize the first letter as uMama.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "your mother", you add the possessive pronoun wakho to the word for mother, resulting in umama wakho.
Did you know?
- Addressing a woman as Mam' is not only affectionate but can be a polite way to initiate a conversation with a female stranger in a marketplace.
- In many Xhosa-speaking households, calling one's mother simply by her name is considered extremely disrespectful. Even as an adult, using a title like uMama is a vital way to show proper respect.
- In written Xhosa, the word umama is often accompanied by clicks in other words within the same sentence, though the word 'mother' itself does not contain a click sound.
Examples in context
- Umama ufikile.Mom has arrived.
- Ndifuna umama wam.I want my mom.
- Umama uthanda imifuno.Mom loves vegetables.
Example conversation
Lwazi and Siyabonga are talking about a family gathering.
- LwaziUza kuza nomama yakho?Are you coming with your mom?
- SiyabongaEwe, umama uza nathi.Yes, mom is coming with us.
- LwaziKulungile, ndiyayithanda imityu yakhe.That's great, I love her style.
- SiyabongaNdiza kuyixelela, Lwazi.I will tell her, Lwazi.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry umama, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
