je moeder
/jə ˈmu.dər/word by wordslang
The phrase "your mom" in Dutch is translated as je moeder.
As an insult, je moeder functions similarly to its English counterpart. It can be used as a standalone retort or as part of a longer, more aggressive sentence.
Meaning: a general-purpose insult (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive pronoun je (your/informal) and the noun moeder (mother).
Which one should you use?
While je moeder is the standard slang version, the formal equivalent uw moeder would sound bizarre or nonsensical if used in an insulting context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
When used as an insult, je moeder is highly informal and is considered low-register slang. Other informal variations include jouw mama (your mama), while the formal versions are uw moeder and uw mama.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /jə ˈmu.dər/. The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
When do people say it?
Like in English, this phrase is used as a general-purpose insult.
Did you know?
- The word moeder is an essential part of many Dutch compound words, such as moederziel (mother soul), which refers to a person's innermost or most compassionate nature.
- In some Dutch urban dialects, je moeder is used as a punchline in 'joke' formats that mimic the American 'yo mama' memes, showing the influence of US pop culture on Dutch slang.
- In the Netherlands, mentioning someone's mother in a negative way is traditionally seen as one of the most personal and aggressive types of insults.
Examples in context
- Is dat je moeder?Is that your mom?This sentence is useful for checking the identity of someone as je moeder.Tatoeba #4595192 by Raizin, translation #4134490 by CK
- En je moeder ook.And your mom also.This sentence is useful for adding je moeder as a follow-up retort.Tatoeba #8934321 by Micsmithel, translation #434222 by lukaszpp
- Geef je moeder even.Put your mom on the phone.This sentence shows je moeder being used in a longer sentence structure.Tatoeba #12378364 by megamanenm, translation #10819592 by ddnktr
- Je moeder!Your mom!
- Hoe gaat het met uw moeder?How is your mother?
- Ik wil graag mijn respect betuigen aan uw mamaI would like to express my respect to your mama
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Noah are joking around during a break at school.
- EmmaKijk eens naar je schoenen, Noah.Look at your shoes, Noah.
- NoahWat is er mee?What's wrong with them?
- EmmaZe zijn lelijk, net als je moeder!They're ugly, just like your mom!
- NoahHou je mond, Emma!Shut up, Emma!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “your mom” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (je, moeder) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
