German · People & Family
"Mother" in German: Mutter
die Mutter
Mother in German is die Mutter, a feminine noun. Kids and casual speech prefer Mama. The plural Mütter adds an umlaut, which beginners often miss.
Talking about parents
Meine Mutter arbeitet als Lehrerin.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Mutter
Say it
MOOT-ter
/ˈmʊtɐ/
MOOT-ter. The u is a long "oo" as in "food". Both t sounds are clear. Stress the first syllable.
"Mother" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| die Mutter | mother Neutral standard word. | Neutral standard word. |
| die Mama | mom, mummy Affectionate everyday form. | Affectionate everyday form. |
| die Mutti | mum Warm and a bit old-fashioned or regional. | Warm and a bit old-fashioned or regional. |
| die Stiefmutter | stepmother Step-mother. | Step-mother. |
How to use Mutter in real life
- 1Talking about parents
Meine Mutter arbeitet als Lehrerin.
My mother works as a teacher.
Meine agrees with feminine Mutter.
- 2Calling home
Ich rufe gleich meine Mutter an.
I'll call my mother in a moment.
Anrufen is separable: rufe… an.
- 3Family visit
Am Wochenende besuche ich Mutter und Vater.
This weekend I'm visiting mother and father.
Without mein it can sound a bit formal or old-fashioned; meine Mutter is more common.
Mistakes English speakers make with Mutter
Incorrect: mein Mutter
Correct: meine Mutter
Feminine nouns need meine. Mein is for masculine and neuter in the nominative.
Incorrect: die Mutters
Correct: die Mütter
Plural is Mütter with ü. English-style -s is wrong.
Good to know
Muttertag (Mother's Day) is celebrated in May in Germany. In everyday speech, adults often still say Mama when talking to or about their own mother, while Mutter sounds more neutral or formal in forms and official contexts.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a Mother's Day call
ChatPal
Wann rufst du deine Mutter an?
When are you calling your mother?
You
Heute Abend. Meine Mutter mag späte Anrufe.
This evening. My mother likes late calls.
ChatPal
Süß. Grüß deine Mutter von mir!
Sweet. Say hi to your mother from me!
You
Mach ich. Meine Mutter freut sich bestimmt.
Will do. My mother will be glad for sure.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Mother" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Mother" in German
When do I say Mama instead of Mutter?
Mama is warmer and more personal. Mutter is neutral and fits forms, school, or talking about someone else's mother politely.
What is the plural of Mutter?
Die Mütter, with ü. One mother, two Mütter.
How do you say mother-in-law?
Die Schwiegermutter. Schwieger- marks in-laws in German family words.
Is Mutter used in compounds?
Yes: Muttersprache (mother tongue), Muttertag, Großmutter (grandmother).
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
