你阿媽
nei5 aa3 maa1
The phrase "your mom" in Cantonese is translated as 你阿媽 (nei5 aa3 maa1).
While the phrase literally means "your mother," it is often used as a general-purpose, low-level insult when used as a standalone exclamation or a retort, similar to how "your mom" is used in English.
Meaning: a general-purpose insult (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 你 (you/your), 阿 (a prefix used for family members) and 媽 (mother).
Which one should you use?
The masculine counterpart to this insult is 你老竇, which means "your dad".
How do you pronounce it?
nei5 aa3 maa1
Did you know?
- In Cantonese culture, insults directed at parents are often considered more offensive than insults directed at the individual because of the deep emphasis on filial piety.
- While the phrase 你阿媽 is an insult, the prefix 阿 is used in many polite and loving contexts to address one's own mother or aunts.
- Unlike the English 'your mom' jokes which are often playful, using 你阿媽 in a Cantonese social setting is rarely perceived as a joke and is almost always taken as a direct challenge.
Examples in context
- 你阿媽知唔知你尋晚去咗邊㗎？Does your mom know where you were last night?This sentence is useful for seeing 你阿媽 used in a standard question about a person's mother.Tatoeba #7032076 by nickyeow, translation #3565071 by CK
Example conversation
Two friends are arguing over a video game.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting你又輸咗俾我！nei5 jau6 syu1 zo2 bei2 ngo5!You lost to me again!
- 志強 Chi Keung你作弊呀！nei5 zok3 bi6 aa3!You cheated!
- 雅婷 Nga Ting你阿媽！nei5 aa3 maa1!Your mom!
- 志強 Chi Keung你唔好咁講！nei5 m4 hou2 gam3 gong2!Don't talk like that!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
