ママ

Japanese

Etymology 1

Developed from spontaneous babbling of children acquiring language, wherein bilabial sounds are among the first to be produced. Influence from other languages is possible but unlikely, as there are false cognates in many of the world's languages; see “Mama and papa” on Wikipedia. The “proprietress” sense is influenced by French madame.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ママ [máꜜmà] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ma̠ma̠]

Noun

ママ • (mama) 

1. (childish) mama, mamma, a childish form of mother, one's female parent
2. proprietress of a drinking establishment etc.

Coordinate terms

• パパ (papa)

Synonyms

• (mama):, 母(かあ)ちゃん (kāchan) (childish), お母(かあ)さん (okāsan)
• (one's mother): お袋(ふくろ) (ofukuro) (informal)
• (a proprietress): 女(おんな)主(しゅ)人(じん) (onna shujin), マダム (madamu)

Etymology 2

Particle

ママ or まま • (mama) 

1. Alternative form of まま
2. (writing and editing) 儘: sic, as it is

   北川(きたがわ)さんの「見(み)っけた写真(しゃしん)」〔ママ〕

   Kitagawa-san no “mikketa shashin” 〔mama〕

   Ms. Kitagawa's “finded pictures” [sic]