noun
mama
MA-muh
noun
1
An affectionate, informal word for mother, often used by young children.
"The toddler ran to her mama crying."
"He still calls his mother "mama" even as an adult."
2
A respectful or affectionate term of address for an older woman.
"The regulars all knew Mama, who ran the diner for forty years."
How to Use Mama
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA childlike or affectionate word for mother, though it can also be used as a warm title for an older woman.
When to use it
Informal; more common in speech than formal writing.
Word Forms
mamaed past tense, mamas plural, mamas plural, mamas singular
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Etymology
Probably a reduplication of the baby-talk sound "ma," found in similar forms across many unrelated languages.