അമ്മ
amma/ɐmmɐ/
The word for mother in Malayalam is അമ്മ (amma). Wiktionary also lists മാതാവ് (mātāvŭ) and തള്ള (taḷḷa).
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Malayalam | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| അമ്മ | amma | /ɐmmɐ/ |
| മാതാവ് | mātāvŭ | /maːd̪aːʋɨ/ |
| തള്ള | taḷḷa | /t̪ɐɭɭɐ/ |
The term refers to a female human who gives birth to or parents a child.
Which one should you use?
അമ്മ is the most common and affectionate way to say mother in everyday speech. മാതാവ് is a formal or literary term often used in literature, religious contexts or official documents. തള്ള is a highly derogatory or vulgar slang term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Central Kerala, the widespread term for mother is അമ്മ. In the Malabar region, Ummi is a commonly used term for mother.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word in a sentence, it can change forms. To say 'mother's' (the possessive), use അമ്മയുടെ. To use 'mother' as a direct object, such as in the sentence 'I saw mother', use the form അമ്മയെ.
How do you pronounce it?
amma (/ɐmmɐ/)
Did you know?
- The term അമ്മ is used as a respectful title for many women in Kerala, even if they are not biologically related to you, such as a teacher or an elderly lady.
- The term Ummi is a common way to address a mother in Kerala's Muslim communities, reflecting the linguistic influence of Arabic on the region's culture.
- In certain emotional or poetic contexts, അമ്മ can be used to refer to the Earth or the homeland, treating the land as a nurturing mother.
Examples in context
- ധാ ആ കാണുന്ന പെണ്ണിന് അമ്മയില്ല.That girl over there doesn't have a mother.This sentence shows how to use അമ്മ to express that someone does not have a mother.Tatoeba #10657401 by signalzero, translation #9013863 by CK
- ആ സ്വര്ണമോതിരം എന്റെ അമ്മയുടേതാണ്.That gold ring belonged to my mother.This sentence demonstrates the possessive use of a related form of അമ്മ.Tatoeba #3712137 by dochash, translation #3259605 by CK
- എന്റെ അമ്മ പാവമാ.My mother is a kind soul.This sentence uses അമ്മ to describe a mother's character.Tatoeba #10659134 by signalzero, translation #1793853 by AsliAbbasi
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Meera and Vishnu are talking at home about their families.
- മീര Meeraവിഷ്ണു, നിന്റെ അമ്മ എവിടെ?vishnu, ninte amma evide?Vishnu, where is your mother?
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅമ്മ ഇപ്പോൾ അടുക്കളയിൽ ഉണ്ട്.amma ippol adukkalayil undu.Mother is in the kitchen now.
- മീര Meeraഎന്റെ അമ്മയും അടുക്കളയിൽ ആണ്.ente ammayum adukkalayil aanu.My mother is also in the kitchen.
- വിഷ്ണു Vishnuഅമ്മ എപ്പോഴും അവിടെയായിരിക്കും.amma eppozhum avideyirikkum.Mother will always be there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries അമ്മ, മാതാവ്, തള്ള, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
