Spanish · People & Family

"Mom" in Spanish: mamá

mamá

Say it: mah-MAHfeminine noun/maˈma/

Mom in Spanish is mamá. Write the accent on the second a. It is warmer and more everyday than madre.

Calling from another room

¡Mamá, dónde está mi mochila?
Mom, where is my backpack?
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How to pronounce mamá

Say it

mah-MAH

/maˈma/

mah-MAH. Stress the second syllable. The accent mark shows that stress.

"Mom" in Spanish: quick reference

SpanishEnglish
mamámom / mum

Everyday affectionate word.

mi mamámy mom

Very common with kids and adults.

¡mamá!mom!

Calling out or answering the phone.

mamimommy

Extra affectionate; common with little kids.

How to use mamá in real life

  1. 1Calling from another room

    ¡Mamá, dónde está mi mochila?

    Mom, where is my backpack?

    ¡Mamá! is the natural call.

  2. 2Talking to a friend

    Mi mamá me espera afuera.

    My mom is waiting for me outside.

    Mi mamá sounds warm and everyday.

  3. 3Text message

    Mamá, llego en diez minutos.

    Mom, I'll be there in ten minutes.

    Short texts often start with Mamá,

Mistakes English speakers make with mamá

Incorrect: Hola, mama sin acento.

Correct: Hola, mamá.

Write mamá with the accent. Mama without it can look unfinished.

Incorrect: Mi mamá es el mejor.

Correct: Mi mamá es la mejor.

Mamá is feminine. Say la mejor, not el mejor.

Good to know

Mamá is the default warm word across Latin America. Mami is softer with young children.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Arriving home after school

  1. ChatPal

    ¿Ya le avisaste a tu mamá?

    Did you already tell your mom?

  2. You

    Sí. Mamá sabe que llego tarde.

    Yes. Mom knows I'm arriving late.

  3. ChatPal

    Perfecto. Entonces entramos.

    Perfect. Then let's go in.

  4. You

    Voy. Mamá ya puso la mesa.

    Coming. Mom already set the table.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Mom" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Mom" in Spanish

Does mamá need an accent?

Yes. Write mamá. The accent marks stress on the last syllable.

Is mamá formal or informal?

Informal and affectionate. Madre is the more formal word.

Is mamá masculine or feminine?

Feminine: mi mamá, esa mamá, una mamá cariñosa.

What is mami?

A softer, more affectionate form of mamá, often used with kids.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

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  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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