mama

noun

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

Examples of mama in a Sentence

I'm not your mama—you'll have to clean up after yourself.
Recent Examples on the Web Even his doggone mama and her sister were getting in on the attention. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 26 Sep. 2023 There were times in my life where my mama couldn’t get my number [Laughs]. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2023 The resulting visual movement captures the intricate interplay of love and hardship, beauty and struggle, unveiling the deeply personal and poetic truths of the participating mamas and artists. Photovogue, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2023 Another picture shows Riot bundled up in a blanket in his mama's arms. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 19 Sep. 2023 Watch the unbridled joy between this baby chimp and his mama when they're finally reunited. Carissa Quiambao, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2023 And Barbara-Pam wanted that kind of man, like her daddy had been to her mama. Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2023 This mama is the epitome of the hashtag: #bookedbusyandblessed. As Told To Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 29 Aug. 2023 So, this mama's mirror selfie doubles as an expert lesson in Mom Power. Jacqueline Tempera, Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mama.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near mama

Cite this Entry

“Mama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mama. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

mama

noun
ma·​ma
variants also mamma or momma
ˈmäm-ə

More from Merriam-Webster on mama

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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