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"Mom" is a noun which is often translated as "la mamá", and "mum" is a noun which is also often translated as "la mamá". Learn more about the difference between "mom" and "mum" below.
mom(
mam
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (colloquial) (relative) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. la mamá (F) (colloquial)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
I don't know what to buy my mom for her birthday.No sé qué comprarle a mi mamá para su cumpleaños.
b. la mami (F) (colloquial)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Tell my mom I'm going out with my friends.Dile a mi mami que voy a salir con mis amigos.
c. ma (form of address) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Mom, can I have some money for an ice cream?Ma, ¿me das dinero para un helado?
mum(
muhm
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (colloquial) (relative) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
b. la ma (F) (colloquial) (form of address) (Latin America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Mum, can you help me, please?Ma, ¿me ayudas, por favor?
2. (colloquial) (botany)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. el crisantemo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The garden was full of mums.El jardín estaba lleno de crisantemos.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
3. (silent)
b. silencioso
Is everything ok? You've been mum all day.¿Está todo bien? Has estado silencioso el día entero.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I know something is worrying him but he keeps mum.Sé que algo le preocupa, pero no suelta prenda.
This will be our secret. Mum's the word.No digas ni pío; será nuestro secreto.
