ແມ່
mǣ[mɛː˧]
The Lao word for mother is ແມ່ (mǣ).
The term ແມ່ refers to a female human who gives birth to or parents a child. In many colloquial contexts, it also serves as a respectful way to address older women or female relatives who are not your biological mother, functioning similarly to the English term 'auntie'.
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
mǣ
When do people say it?
Because ແມ່ can be used to address female elders or aunts, it functions as a term of respect for women in various social contexts.
Did you know?
- Lao uses ແມ່ in specific compound words to describe 'main' or 'primary' things, such as ເສັ້ນແມ່ for a 'main line' or 'primary cable'.
- In Lao culture, the word ແມ່ is often combined with other words to create terms for female animals, such as ແມ່ໄກ່ for a 'hen' or 'mother chicken'.
- The word ແມ່ is part of a wide network of cognates across Southeast Asia, sharing a common root with the Ahom language of India and the Zhuang language of China.
Examples in context
- ແມ່ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກກາເຟນີ້.My mother doesn’t like this coffee.This sentence shows how to use ແມ່ to talk about your mother's preferences.Tatoeba #8978767 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8978768 by Analu_Kalaka
- ແມ່ໝູ່ເຈົ້າອາຍຸເທົ່າໃດ?How old is your friend’s mother?This sentence demonstrates asking about the age of a friend's ແມ່.Tatoeba #8986490 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8986491 by Analu_Kalaka
- ແມ່ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກແມ່ຄ້າຜູ້ນັ້ນ.My mother doesn’t like that sales clerk.This sentence shows using ແມ່ when discussing someone your mother does not like.Tatoeba #8981606 by Analu_Kalaka, translation #8981607 by Analu_Kalaka
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their family.
- Aແມ່ຂອງເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີບໍ່?mae khong chao sa bai dee bor?How is your mother?
- Bແມ່ຂອງຂ້ອຍສະບາຍດີ.mae khong khoy sa bai dee.My mother is well.
- Aດີແລ້ວທີ່ແມ່ເຈົ້າສະບາຍດີ.dee laeo thee mae chao sa bai dee.It is good that your mother is well.
- Bຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆ.khop chai lai lai.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries ແມ່, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ແມ່, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
