Deine Mutter
/ˈdaɪ̯nə ˈmʊtər/word by word
The phrase 'your mum' in German is Deine Mutter.
Saying Deine Mutter as a standalone phrase can be used as a 'your mum' joke or a playground insult, similar to how it is used in English.
Which one should you use?
Deine Mutter uses the informal possessive pronoun 'deine'. If you are speaking to a stranger or someone in a formal setting, you should use Ihre Mutter instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes to deiner Mutter when used in the genitive case, such as when saying 'the name of your mother' (der Name deiner Mutter).
Did you know?
- The word Mutter has a second meaning in German that refers to a 'nut' used with a bolt in hardware.
- The phrase 'Deine Mutter' is a staple of German internet culture and 'Shitposting', often used as a non-sequitur to derail serious discussions.
- Using the formal Ihre Mutter in a joke is grammatically correct but can make the insult sound bizarrely polite or sarcastic, which often ruins the comedic effect.
Examples in context
- Wer ist deine Mutter?Who's your mum?Tatoeba #6050310 by wolfgangth, translation #12438887 by sundown
- Ist deine Mutter daheim?Is your mum at home?Tatoeba #926062 by Sudajaengi, translation #2345890 by everylanguage
- Arbeitet hier deine Mutter?Does your mum work here?Tatoeba #1632796 by Esperantostern, translation #11975847 by sundown
- Wie geht es deiner Mutti?How is your mum?
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Laura are talking about their families.
- MaximilianWie heißt deine Mutter eigentlich?What is your mum's name, actually?
- LauraSie heißt Sabine.Her name is Sabine.
- MaximilianIst deine Mutter auch Lehrerin?Is your mum also a teacher?
- LauraNein, sie ist Ärztin.No, she is a doctor.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (deine, Mutter) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
