sua mãe
/ˈsu.ɐ ˈmɐ̃j̃/word by word
The English phrase 'your mom' translates to Portuguese as sua mãe.
It can function as a general-purpose insult. You may also see A mãe used to refer to someone's mother by omitting the possessive pronoun entirely.
Meaning: a general-purpose insult (intj)
Which one should you use?
sua mãe is the standard way to say 'your mom' in most of Brazil, whereas tua mãe is used in many regions (like the South or parts of the Northeast) when using the second-person singular pronoun 'tu'. Additionally, A tua mãezinha is an endearing way to refer to someone's mom in European Portuguese.
Is it said differently in some regions?
tua mãe is used in many regions (like the South or parts of the Northeast).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word sua is the feminine possessive adjective that must agree with the feminine noun mãe.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈsu.ɐ ˈmɐ̃j̃/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word mãe is actually a 'child-speech' version of the more formal word madre. Over centuries, the simplified pronunciation used by children became the standard word for 'mother' in Portuguese.
- In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, insulting someone's mother is considered a far more severe provocation than in English, often escalating a minor argument into a physical fight.
- Adding the diminutive suffix to create mãezinha can shift the phrase from a harsh insult to a sarcastic or condescending remark depending on the tone used in Portugal.
Examples in context
- Ela é sua mãe?Is she your mom?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is your mom using sua mãe.Tatoeba #978512 by alexmarcelo, translation #3951963 by felvideki
- Sua mãe é legal.Your mom is cool.This sentence is useful for describing someone's mom as cool using sua mãe.Tatoeba #3433624 by piterkeo, translation #3431205 by CK
- E sua mãe também.And your mom also.This sentence is useful for adding 'and your mom also' using sua mãe.Tatoeba #880728 by alexmarcelo, translation #434222 by lukaszpp
- Olá, gostaria de falar com sua mãe.Hello, I would like to speak with your mom.
- Peço desculpas pela minha conduta com a sua progenitora.I apologize for my behavior towards your mom.
- Vamos sair hoje à noite? A tua mãe deixou?Shall we go out tonight? Did your mom allow it?
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are joking around and teasing each other.
- FelipeOlha esse seu cabelo!Look at your hair!
- JulianaSua mãe!Your mom!
- FelipeQue resposta idiota, Juliana.What a stupid answer, Juliana.
- JulianaEu só estou brincando, Felipe.I'm just kidding, Felipe.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (sua, mãe) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mãe, sua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
