Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| deine Mutter | /ˈdaɪ̯nə ˈmʊtər/ (word by word) |
| dei Mudda |
While literally referring to someone's mother, this phrase is often used as a general-purpose insult.
Which one should you use?
The default form deine Mutter is standard, while dei Mudda is a colloquial or dialectal variation often used in street slang or specific regional dialects. The formal version Ihre Mutter translates to "your mother" in German when using the formal "Sie" form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The commonplace way to say "your mom" in German when using an informal tone is Deine Mutter. For formal situations, use Ihre Mutter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, Dei Muadda can be used as an equivalent to "your mom" in an informal context. In the Berlin dialect, you may encounter the humorous slang variants Deine Mudda or Deine Alde.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form deine Mutter is in the nominative case, used when the phrase is the subject of a sentence. If the phrase is used as an indirect object (e.g., 'I gave it to your mom'), the form changes to deiner Mutter.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdaɪ̯nə ˈmʊtər/
Did you know?
- The word Mutter has a second meaning in German that refers to a 'nut' used with a bolt in hardware. This usage comes from a sexual metaphor regarding the shape of the object.
- The insult Deine Mutter is often used in Germany as a 'universal' answer to any question, regardless of whether it makes sense in context.
- The phrase Deine Mutter became a massive internet meme in Germany during the 2000s, spawning thousands of 'your mom' jokes that followed a specific competitive format.
Examples in context
- Wo ist deine Mutter?Where's your mom?This is useful for asking where someone's mother is.Tatoeba #3180520 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2254687 by CK
- Ist das deine Mutter?Is that your mom?This is useful for asking if a person is someone's mother.Tatoeba #963892 by Sudajaengi, translation #4134490 by CK
- Ist sie deine Mutter?Is she your mom?Tatoeba #5085955 by freddy1, translation #3951963 by felvideki
- David, zieh dein T-Shirt aus! Warum? Deine Mutter hat doch nichts dagegen!David, take off your T-shirt! Why? Your mom doesn't mind!
- Wer hat gestern die ganze Schokolade aufgegessen? Na, deine Alte hat sich wohl bedient!Who ate all the chocolate yesterday? Well, your mom must have helped herself!
- Können Sie bitte Ihre Mutter darum bitten, uns morgen zu besuchen?Can you please ask your mother to visit us tomorrow?
- Wos host gsogt? Dei Muadda geht auf'd Wiesn!What did you say? Your mom is going to the Oktoberfest!
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Maximilian are arguing during a video game.
- SarahDu bist so schlecht in diesem Spiel!You are so bad at this game!
- MaximilianDeine Mutter!Your mom!
- SarahWas soll das jetzt bedeuten?What is that supposed to mean now?
- MaximilianNichts, du verlierst einfach nur.Nothing, you're just losing.
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 (deine, Mutter) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mudda, Mutter, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
