noun
ma
mah
noun
1
An informal word for "mother".
"She called her ma every Sunday evening."
"Ma always knew exactly what to say to calm us down."
How to Use Ma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual, affectionate word for one's mother.
When to use it
Informal and often regional or generational — more common in older or rural speech than "mum"/"mom" in some dialects.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
mas plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “ma”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She called her _____ every Sunday evening.
Etymology
A near-universal baby sound across languages, tied to the same ancient root behind "mama" and "mother".