אמא
íma/ˈ(ʔ)i.ma/
The Hebrew word for "mommy" is אמא (íma).
אמא is an informal or affectionate term used by a child to address their mother.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as íma. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- In Hebrew, the root for 'mother' אם is the same root used for the word 'if' אם, though they have completely different meanings.
- The term אמא is borrowed from Aramaic, a sister language to Hebrew that served as the lingua franca of the region for centuries.
- In some Israeli slang, אמא is used as an intensifier in expressions to describe something very large or foundational, such as אמא של כל ה… meaning 'the mother of all…'.
Examples in context
- אמא, למה אין לי דוד עם זקן?Mommy, why don't I have an uncle with a beard?This sentence shows how to use אמא when asking a question.Tatoeba #649892 by Eldad, translation #576695 by FeuDRenais2
- אמא, אני אוהב אותך.Ima, ani ohev otach.Mommy, I love you.
- אמא, אפשר לקבל חטיף?Ima, efshar lekabel khatif?Mommy, can I have a snack?
Example conversation
Daniel asks his mother for help with a toy.
- דניאל Danielאמא, אני לא מצליח להרכיב את זה.Ima, ani lo matzliach l harkiv et ze.Mommy, I can't put this together.
- נועה Noaבוא אני אעזור לך, דניאל.Bo ani a'azor lecha, Daniel.Come, I will help you, Daniel.
- דניאל Danielתודה, אמא!Toda, Ima!Thanks, mommy!
- נועה Noaבבקשה, חמוד.Bevakasha, chamud.You're welcome, sweetie.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry אמא, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries אמא, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
