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.
The last step in frying okra that’s crispier than your mama’s is to fry it at the proper temperature. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026 The proud mama hit the ski slopes with her family while visiting Whistler, British Columbia in February 2026. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 Then, Yancy comes home to his girlfriend and baby mama to find Kai on the porch standing guard. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 23 July 2026 Her middle child, Sayveon, was the perfect picture of a mama’s boy. — Meghan O'Brien, NBC news, 20 July 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 12 Aug. 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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