bimaa
[pimaː]
The Apache word for mother is bimaa. Wiktionary also lists bąą and bąąhi.
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Apache | IPA |
|---|---|
| bimaa | [pimaː] (narrow) |
| bąą | [pãː] (narrow) |
| bąąhi | |
| -maa | |
| -máá |
The term refers to a female human who gives birth to or parents a child.
How does it change in a sentence?
In addition to the full noun bimaa, the word can be expressed through the forms bąą and bąąhi. The forms -maa and -máá function as suffixes within the language.
Did you know?
- Apache kinship terms are often 'classificatory', meaning a person might call their mother's sister bimaa as well.
- The Apache language uses a complex system of kinship terms where the word for 'mother' changes depending on whether the woman is a maternal or paternal relative.
- The word bimaa is part of an Athabaskan language family that shares distant roots with the Na-Dené languages of Canada and Alaska.
Example sentences for Apache are not verified yet.
Example conversation
James is introducing Sarah to his parent.
- JamesSarah, bimaa nąąʼąąʼ.Sarah, my mother is here.
- SarahKʼee nąąʼąąʼ.It is good she is here.
- JamesBimaa kʼee tʼááshshįįh.My mother is calling me.
- SarahÁání.Okay.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries bimaa, bąą, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
