Mama

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mama"

German

Alternative forms
  • Mamma

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈmama/ (commonly)
  • IPA(key): /maˈmaː/ (obsolete, lofty)
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -aː

Noun

Mama f (genitive Mama or Mamas, plural Mamas)

  1. mum, mummy, mom, mommy

Usage notes
  • The word is commonly used with a definite article in most parts of central Germany, southern Germany, and Austria: Wo ist die Mama? – “Where is Mum?” In northern Germany—and generally in writing—no article tends to be used: Wo ist Mama?
  • The genitive Mamas is used before the modified term, without any article or determiner: Mamas Tasche – “Mum’s bag”. This is chiefly northern German usage; the rest of the language prefers: die Tasche von der Mama (as above). — With an accompanying article or determiner, the genitive takes no ending: die Tasche meiner Mama – “my mum’s bag”. This, however, is not common usage in any region; children will say instead: die Tasche von meiner Mama.

Declension
Declension of Mama
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative eine die Mama die Mamas
genitive einer der Mama der Mamas
dative einer der Mama den Mamas
accusative eine die Mama die Mamas

Synonyms

Derived terms

Further reading
  • Mama in Duden online
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