HeyRuaHow to say “mum” in Irish
- Irish:
- mam
- English:
- mum
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “mam” /mˠamˠ/
- Plural:
- mamanna (mums)
- Genitive singular:
- maime, na maime (e.g. carr mo mhaime, my mum's car)
- Genitive plural:
- mamanna, na mamanna (e.g. cruinniú na mamanna, the mums' meeting)
What does “mam” mean?
- mum
- An informal word for your mother, used when talking to or about her.Also: mom, mam, mammy, mother.
Other Irish words for mum: máthair (mother)
“Mam” with the article
The plural of mum in Irish is mamanna. Here is mam after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Mam” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using mam, the Irish word for mum.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Mum in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for mum?
The Irish for mum is mam (pronounced “mam”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is mamanna.
How do you pronounce mam in Irish?
Mam is said like “mam” (IPA /mˠamˠ/).
What is the plural of mum in Irish?
The plural of mam is mamanna; with the article, na mamanna means “the mums”. The genitive plural is mamanna, as in cruinniú na mamanna (the mums' meeting).
Why does mam change to mham?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mham. After ár (our) it stays ár mam, because m does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'mam' and 'máthair'?
'Máthair' is the standard, neutral word for mother, while 'mam' is the informal, affectionate word, like English 'mum'. You would say 'Mam' to her face but write 'máthair' on a form.
