nne
/ń̩né/
The Igbo word for mother is nne.
The term nne refers to a female who has given birth to or parents a child. It is used both to refer to one's biological mother and as a respectful term of address for women in general or older women.
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Which one should you use?
While nne is the standard noun, Nnem is used specifically to mean "my mother".
How do you pronounce it?
/ń̩né/
Did you know?
- The word nne can be used in a comforting or endearing way to address a daughter or a younger female, effectively flipping the generational role of the term.
- In some Igbo communities, the concept of nne extends to any woman who helps raise a child, emphasizing social motherhood over biological birth.
- The phonetic structure of nne is closely related to other languages in the Niger-Congo family, sharing an ancestral root with the terms used by the Ekpeye and Ika peoples.
Examples in context
- Nne mMy mother
- Nne omaGood mother
- Nne m dị ala.My mother is sitting down.
Example conversation
Ifeanyi is asking Ifunanya about her mother's whereabouts.
- IfunanyaIfeanyi, ị hụrụ nne m?Ifeanyi, have you seen my mother?
- IfeanyiEe, Ifunanya, nne gị nọ n'ụlọ.Yes, Ifunanya, your mother is at home.
- IfunanyaImeela, m ga-aga n'ụlọ.Thank you, I will go home.
- IfeanyiKa ọ dị, nne gị na-eche gị.Goodbye, your mother is waiting for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries nne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
