お母さん
okāsan[o̞ka̠ːsã̠ɴ]
The phrase "your mother" in Japanese is translated as お母さん (okāsan).
お母さん is a respectful way to refer to 'your mother' and is commonly used in formal conversations. Using it in a confrontational way can feel patronizing or mocking.
Meaning: insult (intj)
Which one should you use?
When speaking about your own mother to others, you should use 母 instead of お母さん.
How does it change in a sentence?
The prefix 'o-' and the suffix '-san' are honorific markers that make the word polite, which is why using it toward a stranger's mother is standard.
How do you pronounce it?
okāsan
Did you know?
- The modern way of addressing parents was actually popularized by the Japanese Ministry of Education through school textbooks in 1903. Before this, regional variations like the one found in the phrase お母さん were more common in cities like Osaka and Kyoto than in Tokyo.
- The word お母さん can be used as a general term of address for any middle-aged woman, even if she is not the speaker's mother.
- If you were to use お母さん in a very formal or high-status business setting, it might actually feel too casual. In those specific instances, the even more respectful お母様 (okasama) might still be the preferred way to show deference.
Examples in context
- お母さんはどこ？Where's your mother?This sentence shows how to ask where the form お母さん is.Tatoeba #226610 by small_snow, translation #2254688 by CK
- あの人がお母さん？Is she your mother?This sentence is used to confirm if a person is the form お母さん.Tatoeba #11527161 by small_snow, translation #310268 by CK
- 僕、お母さんはどこ？Where is your mother, boy?This sentence uses the form お母さん when addressing a boy.Tatoeba #1085878 by bunbuku, translation #321111 by carlosalberto
- お母さん、お元気ですか？How is your mother? (polite)
- お母ちゃん、今日は何をしてるの？What are you doing today, mom? (casual)
- ママ、ご飯おいしかったよ！Mom, the meal was delicious! (casual)
- 54 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two teenagers arguing during a game.
- 大翔 Hirotoまた負けたな！Mata maketa na!You lost again!
- 結衣 Yuiうるさいな！Urusai na!Shut up!
- 大翔 Hirotoお母さんに言いつけてやるよ。Okāsan ni iitsukete yaru yo.I'm going to tell your mother on you.
- 結衣 Yui最低！Saitei!That's the worst!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry お母さん, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries お母さん, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
