mama

UK: ˈmɑːmə | US: ˈmɑːmə

Definition

  1. n. (informal) a child's word for "mother"

  2. n. (colloquial) an affectionate term for one's mother

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

"Mama" is a universal infantile word derived from the natural sounds babies make (reduplicated "ma" sounds). It appears across languages (e.g., Latin mamma, Greek mámmē, Mandarin "māma") due to its simplicity and early articulability. The term reflects a cross-linguistic pattern where nasal consonants ("m") and open vowels ("a") are associated with maternal figures.

Examples

  1. The toddler cried out for her mama when she fell.

  2. He sent flowers to his mama on Mother's Day.

  3. "Mama, look what I drew!" the child exclaimed.

  4. In many cultures, "mama" is the first word babies learn.

  5. She still calls her mother "Mama" even as an adult.