mamaí
/ˈmˠamˠiː/
The Irish word for "mommy" is mamaí.
mamaí is an affectionate term used by children to address their mother.
Which one should you use?
Mam is also commonly used to address one's mother respectfully.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmˠamˠiː/
Did you know?
- The word mamaí was borrowed from the English 'mammy'.
- When calling out to a mother in Irish, you would say a mham instead of mam. This is because of a rule called lenition, which changes the spelling and sound of the word when it is used as a direct address.
- While mamaí is the affectionate term for 'mommy', the formal word for 'mother' is máthair, which is a cognate of the English word 'mother'.
Example conversation
Conor and Saoirse are playing in the living room.
- ConorSaoirse, cá bhfuil mamaí?Saoirse, where is mommy?
- SaoirseTá sí sa chistin, a Chonaire.She is in the kitchen, Conor.
- ConorLorgfaimid mamaí ansin.Let's find mommy then.
- SaoirseT worries, tá sí ag teacht anois.Don't worry, she is coming now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mamaí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mamaí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
