French · People & Family
"Mom" in French: maman
maman
Mom in French is maman, said mah-MAHN. You use it when speaking to your mom or talking about her warmly. La mère is the more neutral noun.
Calling from another room
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How to pronounce maman
Say it
mah-MAHN
/ma.mɑ̃/
Mah-MAHN, with a nasal an on the second syllable. Stress the end. Both m sounds are clear; the final n is nasal, not hard.
"Mom" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| maman | mom / mummy Calling her or referring to her affectionately. | Calling her or referring to her affectionately. |
| ma maman | my mom Childlike or tender; adults still use it. | Childlike or tender; adults still use it. |
| maman ! | mom! The call itself, like shouting for her. | The call itself, like shouting for her. |
| mère | mother More neutral or formal alternative. | More neutral or formal alternative. |
How to use maman in real life
- 1Calling from another room
Maman, tu as vu mes clés ?
Mom, have you seen my keys?
Direct address uses bare maman.
- 2Talking to a friend
Ma maman vient nous chercher.
My mom is coming to pick us up.
Ma maman sounds warm and familiar.
- 3On the phone
Je suis chez maman ce week-end.
I'm at my mom's this weekend.
Chez maman means at mom's place.
Mistakes English speakers make with maman
Incorrect: La maman est médecin. (formal biography)
Correct: Sa mère est médecin. / Elle est médecin.
In neutral description, mère often fits better than maman.
Incorrect: Mom, où es-tu ?
Correct: Maman, où es-tu ?
Use maman, not the English word mom.
Good to know
French adults commonly still address their mothers as maman. It does not sound childish in the way some English speakers fear. On cards you will see Joyeuse fête, maman !
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A adult child phoning home
ChatPal
Allô ? Oui, c'est maman.
Hello? Yes, it's mom.
You
Salut maman ! Tu vas bien ?
Hi mom! Are you well?
ChatPal
Oui. Maman t'attend pour déjeuner dimanche.
Yes. Mom is expecting you for lunch on Sunday.
You
D'accord maman, j'apporte le dessert.
Okay mom, I'll bring dessert.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Mom" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Mom" in French
Is maman the same as mère?
Same person, different tone. Maman is warm; mère is the standard noun.
Do adults say maman?
Yes, very often, when speaking to their mother or about her casually.
How do you pronounce maman?
Mah-MAHN, with a nasal ending.
What does chez maman mean?
At mom's house.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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