מאַמע
mame[ˈmamə]
The Yiddish word for "mom" is מאַמע (mame).
מאַמע is an informal way to refer to a mother.
Which one should you use?
The diminutive forms Mamele and Mamaleh are used to add an endearing touch or to convey familiarity and affection.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In American-Yiddish, Mama is sometimes used interchangeably with מאַמע and mamele.
How do you pronounce it?
mame
When do people say it?
The use of diminutive forms like Mamele or Mamaleh serves to express warmth and endearment toward a mother.
Did you know?
- In Yiddish culture, the term mamele is often used as a term of endearment for a daughter or a young woman, not just for a mother.
- There is a famous Jewish folk archetype known as the Yiddishe Mama, characterized by an overwhelming and sometimes suffocating level of maternal care.
- In certain Yiddish dialects, a child might use a variation of the word for 'mom' to address any older woman as a sign of respect and closeness, even if there is no biological relation.
Examples in context
- זי איז אונדזער מאַמע.She's our mom.Tatoeba #12743024 by rul, translation #12881673 by rul
- וואָס זאָגט דײַן מאַמע?What does your mom say?Tatoeba #13991910 by rul, translation #12362180 by rul
- מײַן מאַמע איז אַ לינקע.My mom is a lefty.Tatoeba #12825845 by rul, translation #12604080 by rul
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two children are talking about their dinner plans.
- רייזל Reizelוואָס קאָכט דײַן מאַמע הײַנט?Vos kokht dayn mame haynt?What is your mom cooking today?
- בערל Berelמײַן מאַמע קאָכט קוגל.Mayn mame kokht kugel.My mom is cooking kugel.
- רייזל Reizelמײַן מאַמע קאָכט נאָר זופּ.Mayn mame kokht nor zup.My mom is only cooking soup.
- בערל Berelדאָס איז אויך גוט!Dos iz oykh gut!That is also good!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry מאַמע, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
