mi mamá
/mi mama/from spelling rules
The English phrase "my mom" is translated into Spanish as mi mamá.
The phrase Usted es mi madre can be used to say "You are my mother."
Which one should you use?
While mi mamá is the common way to say "my mom," mi madre is a more formal way to say "my mother." mi mami is a more affectionate, diminutive form used by children or to express extra endearment, similar to "my mommy" in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are referring to more than one mom, both the possessive pronoun and the noun must be pluralized: mis mamás.
How do you pronounce it?
/mi mama/
Did you know?
- While mamá is the word for 'mom', the word mama without the accent mark on the final 'a' means 'breast' in Spanish.
- In some regions, the diminutive mami is used as a slang term for a beautiful woman, which is entirely unrelated to the meaning of 'my mommy'.
- In certain highly traditional households, referring to one's mother as mi mamá in front of guests might be considered too informal, and mi señora madre might be used instead.
Examples in context
- Quiero a mi mamá.I love my mom.Tatoeba #651402 by Shishir, translation #2011109 by Shishir
- Mi mamá me cocina.My mom cooks for me.Tatoeba #2139151 by hayastan, translation #9364454 by Nylez
- Hasta mi mamá sabe.Even my mom knows.Tatoeba #1704829 by marcelostockle, translation #1702671 by Spamster
- Hablé con mi madre por teléfono hoyI spoke to my mother on the phone today
- Fui al cine con mamáI went to the movies with mom
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños, mami! Eres la mejorHappy birthday, mom! You're the best.
- 60 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about their families.
- LucíaMi mamá es muy divertida.My mom is very funny.
- Javier¿Tu mamá vive en Madrid?Does your mom live in Madrid?
- LucíaNo, mi mamá vive cerca de aquí.No, my mom lives near here.
- JavierQué bueno, yo quiero mucho a mi mamá.That's good, I love my mom very much.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
