أمك
ummak
The phrase "your mom" in Arabic is أمك (ummak).
This phrase is often used as a general-purpose insult. In many Arabic dialects, using this phrase as a standalone insult is highly offensive and can provoke much stronger reactions than the equivalent in English.
Meaning: a general-purpose insult (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of أم (umm), meaning "mother" and the suffix -ك (-ak/ik), meaning "your".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the phrase is pronounced Omak.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form ummak is often used for the masculine "your," but the suffix changes to -ik (forming أمكِ) when addressing a female directly.
How do you pronounce it?
ummak
Did you know?
- While أمك is a harsh insult, the root word أم is used in Arabic to describe the 'mother' or source of things, such as أم القرى ('Mother of all Villages') for Mecca.
- While the English 'your mom' is often a joke among friends, saying أمك in many Arabic-speaking regions can be seen as a direct challenge to a person's honor. This can escalate a verbal argument into a physical confrontation much faster than in English-speaking cultures.
- In many traditional Arabic-speaking societies, there is a concept of 'family honor' where an insult toward a female relative is not seen as an insult to the individual, but as an attack on the entire family lineage.
Examples in context
- هل تلك أمك؟Is that your mom?This example shows how to use أمك in a question.Tatoeba #6679615 by marhabaan, translation #4134490 by CK
- سيخبر زيري أمكZiri will tell your mom.This example uses أمك in a sentence about someone telling your mother something.Tatoeba #11990787 by dididodo, translation #10213617 by Amastan
- لقد تركتني أمك.Your mom left me.This example uses أمك to state that your mother left someone.Tatoeba #11974600 by dididodo, translation #11887936 by Amastan
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are arguing after a video game match.
- سارة Saraلقد خسرت يا أحمد!Laqad khasirta ya Ahmed!You lost, Ahmed!
- أحمد Ahmedكان مجرد حظ سيئ.Kana mujarrad haz sayyi'.It was just bad luck.
- سارة Saraأمك!Ummak!Your mom!
- أحمد Ahmedتوقف عن قول ذلك!Tawaqqaf 'an qawl dhalik!Stop saying that!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
