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
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.
Especially in a city like Atlanta where there's a lack of affordable housing and the historically Black neighborhoods, that a majority of our mamas live in, have been under-resourced. Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 Since then, the mama pup has been healing and veterinarian Jennifer Smith gave an update on her, posted on the shelter’s Facebook page on March 31. Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025 My mama got a letter in the mail that said the odds were at least one or two of us were gonna get killed by gun violence one day. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 28 Mar. 2025 Riley also showed her mama some love on Instagram, sharing some of the stunning images Kandi did in addition to some of her own. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mama. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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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