mama

ma-ma · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    One's mother (informal, often used by or to children).

  2. 2.

    A mature woman, especially one who is nurturing (informal).

Forms

plural: mamas

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    mama's boy — a man who is overly attached to or influenced by his mother
  • •
    mama bear — a fiercely protective mother
  • •
    hot mama — an attractive woman (informal)
  • •
    yo mama — used in humorous insults (slang)
  • •
    drama mama — a person who causes or attracts drama

Related words

Antonyms: father, papa
See also: mom, mommy, mother, mum, papa
Synonyms: mom, mommy, mother, mum

Etymology

From reduplication of the syllable ma, one of the earliest sounds babies can make. This word for mother appears in nearly identical form across most of the world's languages (Latin mamma, Spanish mamá, Chinese māma, Swahili mama), reflecting infant babbling universally interpreted as calling for the mother.