mama

noun

ma·​ma ˈmä-mə How to pronounce mama (audio)
chiefly British mə-ˈmä
variants or less commonly mamma or momma
Synonyms of mamanext
1
: mother
2
slang : wife, woman

Synonyms of mama

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Examples of mama in a Sentence

I'm not your mama—you'll have to clean up after yourself.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your mama [Laraine Newman] was in it. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026 Was Yara going to be mama-birded into eating more wet bread? — Literary Hub, 19 May 2026 This isn’t your mama’s season of Interview With the Vampire. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 8 June 2026 For a relaxing spa getaway Treat your mama to a weekend that's all about much-needed R&R. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for mama

Word History

Etymology

baby talk

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mama was in 1579

Phrases Containing mama

Rhymes for mama

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Browse Nearby Words

MAM
mama
mama's boy
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Cite this Entry

“Mama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mama. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mama

noun
ma·​ma
variants also mamma or momma
ˈmäm-ə
: mother entry 1 sense 1a

More from Merriam-Webster on mama

Nglish: Translation of mama for Spanish Speakers

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