Mutter
/ˈmʊtər/feminine
The German word for mother is Mutter. If unsure, use Mutter. Wiktionary also lists muadda and Mueter.
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mutter | /ˈmʊtər/ | feminine |
| muadda | ||
| Mueter | Alemannic German, feminine |
Mutter is a noun used to refer to a female human who gives birth to or parents a child.
Which one should you use?
While Mutter is the standard term for mother, you might encounter other forms like the colloquial Mama or the affectionate and informal Mutti.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Mutter is more formal and clinical than the colloquial Mama. For an affectionate and informal term, you can use Mutti, whereas Mama is the common informal way to say 'mom' or 'mommy' used by children and adults in a casual way.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form Mueter is used in Alemannic German.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Mutter is Mütter. In the dative case, the feminine article changes from 'die' to 'der', such as in der Mutter.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmʊtər/
Did you know?
- The technical term for a 'nut' as a fastener is Mutter because of a sexual metaphor involving the female anatomy.
- German uses Mutter in the compound word Muttersprache to describe a person's native language.
- While Mama is common, calling your mother Mutti can sound old-fashioned or specifically indicative of a middle-class upbringing in certain regions.
Examples in context
- Hat er eine Mutter?Does he have a mother?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a Mutter.Tatoeba #5821214 by dasbeispielholz, translation #5136537 by Airvian
- Wo ist Toms Mutter?Where's Tom's mother?This sentence is useful for asking the location of Tom's Mutter.Tatoeba #6640994 by Felixjp, translation #2240346 by CK
- Wo ist deine Mutter?Where's your mother?This sentence is useful for asking the location of someone's Mutter.Tatoeba #3180520 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2254688 by CK
- Frau Schneider, wie geht es Ihrer Mutter?Mrs. Schneider, how is your mother?
- Ich gratuliere Ihnen zum Geburtstag Ihrer Mutter.I congratulate you on your mother's birthday.
- Kannst du mir bitte helfen, Mama?Can you please help me, Mom?
- Mama, ich habe dich lieb!Mom, I love you!
- Hallo Mama, wie war dein Tag?Hello Mom, how was your day?
- Mutti, wo sind meine Socken?Mom, where are my socks?
- Ich habe Mutti ein Geschenk gekauft.I bought a present for Mom.
- Mutti, kannst du mir eine Geschichte vorlesen?Mom, can you read me a story?
- Mami, ich will ein Eis!Mommy, I want an ice cream!
- Mami, hast du mein Spielzeug gesehen?Mommy, have you seen my toy?
- Mami, mir ist kalt. Kannst du mir meine Jacke geben?Mommy, I'm cold. Can you give me my jacket?
- 1957 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are talking about family during a coffee break.
- MaximilianWie geht es deiner Mutter?How is your mother?
- SarahMeiner Mutter geht es sehr gut, danke.My mother is doing very well, thanks.
- MaximilianDas freut mich für sie.I am happy for her.
- SarahDu bist ein sehr netter Mann, Maximilian.You are a very kind man, Maximilian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries Mutter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mutter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
