ತಾಯಿ
tāyi/t̪aːji/
The English word mother is ತಾಯಿ (tāyi) in Kannada.
The word is used to refer to a female human who gives birth to or parents a child. In daily life, the term ಅಮ್ಮ is a common way to refer to one's mother or to say 'mom'.
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ಅಮ್ಮ is the common term for 'mom', ತಾಯಿ is a more formal or literary term for 'mother'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ಅಮ್ಮ is the informal way to say 'mother' and is used in day-to-day conversations or by children. ತಾಯಿ is used in more formal or literary contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
ಅಮ್ಮ is frequently used as a direct vocative, meaning it is often used when calling out to one's mother.
How do you pronounce it?
tāyi (/t̪aːji/)
Did you know?
- While ಅಮ್ಮ is used for 'mom', it is also used as a gentle way to address a young girl, regardless of whether she is someone's child.
- In some rural dialects, ಅಮ್ಮ is used as a general exclamation of surprise or frustration, similar to how an English speaker might say 'Oh my god'.
- In a cultural context, the phrase ಭಾರತ ಮಾತೆ uses a variation of 'mother' to refer to 'Mother India', treating the entire nation as a maternal figure.
Examples in context
- ನನ್ನ ತಾಯಿ ತುಂಬಾ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯವರು.nanna tāyi tumbā oḷḷeyavaru.My mother is very kind.
- ತಾಯಿ ನಮಗೆ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ನೀಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.tāyi namage prīti nīḍuttāre.A mother gives us love.
Example conversation
Anvita and Rahul are talking about their families at a park.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaನಿಮ್ಮ ತಾಯಿ ಹೇಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ?nimma tāyi hēgiddāre?How is your mother?
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulನನ್ನ ತಾಯಿ ತುಂಬಾ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.nanna tāyi tumbā cennāgiddāre.My mother is doing very well.
- ಅನ್ವಿತಾ Anvithaಕೇಳಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಸಂತೋಷವಾಯಿತು.kēḷiddakke tumbā santōṣavāyitu.I am very happy to hear that.
- ರಾಹುಲ್ Rahulಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು ಅನ್ವಿತಾ.dhanyavādagalu Anvitā.Thank you, Anvita.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries ತಾಯಿ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
