Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 母 | haha | [ha̠ha̠] (narrow) [ha̠β̞a̠] (narrow) |
humble |
| お母さん | okāsan | [o̞ka̠ːsã̠ɴ] (narrow) | |
| ママ | mama | [ma̠ma̠] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the word you choose for mother depends on whether you are talking about your own mother to someone else, addressing your mother directly or referring to someone else's mother.
Which one should you use?
Use 母 (haha) when you are speaking to someone outside your family about your own mother. Use お母さん (okāsan) when you are addressing your own mother directly or when you are referring to the mother of another person. The term ママ (mama) is a highly informal and childish way to say mother, used primarily by very young children.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
母 (haha) is a humble form used when discussing your own mother with others. お母さん (okāsan) is the standard, polite way to address your mother within a household or to refer to someone else's mother. ママ (mama) is considered childish.
How do you pronounce it?
haha
Did you know?
- The word 母 (haha) originally sounded like papa in Old Japanese, which later shifted to fafa and finally to its modern pronunciation.
Examples in context
- 母は留守です。My mother isn't at home.This sentence is useful for practicing the humble form 母.Tatoeba #82839 by bunbuku, translation #593247 by CK
- 母は頭が古い。Mother has old-fashioned ideas.This sentence uses the humble form 母 to describe a characteristic.Tatoeba #82883 by tommy__san, translation #320833 by CN
- 私は母親です。I am a mother.This sentence uses the humble form 母 to state an identity.Tatoeba #10225071 by small_snow, translation #7022738 by shekitten
- 田中さん、お母さんによろしくお伝えください。Mr. Tanaka, please give my regards to your mother.
- 今日はおかあさんの作る料理が食べたいな。I want to eat the dishes your mom makes today.
- 母上、ご機嫌いかがですか？Mother, how are you feeling today?
- 850 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota is talking to his colleague Himari about his family.
- 陽太 Yota今週末は母と買い物に行きます。Konshūmatsu wa haha to kaimono ni ikimasu.I am going shopping with my mother this weekend.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。お母さんはどこに住んでいますか。Ii desu ne. Okāsan wa doko ni sunde imasu ka.That's nice. Where does your mother live?
- 陽太 Yota母は田舎に住んでいます。Haha wa inaka ni sunde imasu.My mother lives in the countryside.
- 陽葵 Himariそうなんですね。楽しんできてください。Sō nan desu ne. Tanoshinde kite kudasai.I see. Please have a great time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries 母, お母さん, ママ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お母さん, 母, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
