mamá
/maˈma/
The Spanish word for mom is mamá.
mamá is an informal and affectionate way to refer to a female parent.
Which one should you use?
While mamá is the common term for mom, madre is the more formal and standard term used to mean mother.
Is it said differently in some regions?
mamá is used in most Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Chile. In the Caribbean, particularly in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, mami is commonly used. In some regions of Spain, specifically Andalusia, you may hear the informal shortening má.
How does it change in a sentence?
mamá is a noun that follows standard feminine gender agreement rules in Spanish.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈma/
Did you know?
- The accent mark in mamá is crucial because without it, the word becomes mama, which refers to a nipple or a breast.
- In many Latin American cultures, the term mami is used not only for one's mother but also as a term of endearment for a romantic partner or even a young girl.
- The term madre is used in various Spanish slang expressions to mean 'everything' or 'nothing', such as the Mexican phrase me vale madre, which means 'I don't care at all'.
Examples in context
- Quiero a mi mamá.I love my mom.This sentence shows how to express affection for mamá.Tatoeba #651402 by Shishir, translation #2011109 by Shishir
- Mi mamá me cocina.My mom cooks for me.This sentence describes an action performed by mamá.Tatoeba #2139151 by hayastan, translation #9364454 by Nylez
- ¿Qué dijo tu mamá?What did your mom say?This sentence is a way to ask about something mamá said.Tatoeba #6673570 by UsuarioX, translation #3573387 by Hybrid
- Le quiero mucho, mamáI love you very much, mom
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños, madre querida!Happy birthday, dear mother!
- Gracias por todo, mamiThank you for everything, mom
- Te extraño mucho, mamitaI miss you a lot, mommy
- 185 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about their families at a cafe.
- MaríaMi mamá llamó por teléfono.My mom called on the phone.
- Alejandro¿Está bien tu mamá, María?Is your mom okay, María?
- MaríaSí, ella está muy bien.Yes, she is very well.
- AlejandroQué bueno que tu mamá esté bien.It's good that your mom is well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mamá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
