אֵם
emfeminine
The Hebrew word for mother is אֵם (em). Wiktionary also lists אִמָּא (ímma).
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| אֵם | em | feminine |
| אִמָּא | ímma | feminine |
The word refers to a female human who gives birth to or parents a child.
Which one should you use?
While אֵם is the standard noun for 'mother', אִמָּא is the more common, affectionate and informal way to say 'mom' or 'mommy'.
How do you pronounce it?
em
When do people say it?
The form אִמָּא is used by children and adults alike when addressing their own mother directly.
Did you know?
- The informal word אִמָּא is used in modern Israeli slang as an exclamation of shock or disbelief, similar to how English speakers might say 'Oh my god'.
- In some poetic Hebrew contexts, calling something an אֵם can imply it is a 'headquarters' or a 'primary' part of a larger structure.
- The word אֵם is used metaphorically in Hebrew to describe the source or origin of something, such as אֵם הַתּוֹרָה meaning 'the mother of the Torah'.
Example sentences for Hebrew are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Daniel and Maya are discussing their family history.
- דניאל Danielדניאל, האם סבתך הייתה אֵם לשלושה ילדים?Daniel, ha-im sabetcha hayta em le-shlosha yladim?Daniel, was your grandmother a mother to three children?
- מאיה Mayaכן, היא הייתה אֵם מאוד חזקה.Ken, hi hayta em me'od chazaka.Yes, she was a very strong mother.
- דניאל Danielזה נשמע מרגש מאוד.Ze nishma meragesh me'od.That sounds very touching.
- מאיה Mayaבטח, היא הייתה דמות חשובה בחיי.Betach, hi hayta dmut chashuva be-chayay.Sure, she was an important figure in my life.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
