Mam

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mam"

English

Etymology 1

Proper noun

Mam

1. A Mayan language spoken in the Mexican state of Chiapas and the Guatemalan departments of Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, San Marcos, and Retalhuleu.

Etymology 2

From Welsh Mam (“Mum, Mom”).

Proper noun

Mam

1. (informal, Wales, Ireland) One’s mother.

   Synonyms: Mom, Mommy, Mother, Mummy, Mum

   Antonym: Dad

   Need a cwtch from Mam I do.

Anagrams

• MMA, Amm, amm

Welsh

Etymology

Proprialisation of mam.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mam/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -am

Proper noun

Mam f

1. Mum, Mam, Mom

Usage notes

• Being the name of a person, this proper noun remains unmutated. Note the difference, for example, between:
  • Cafodd y llyfr yma ei ysgrifennu i Mam.

    This book was written for Mum.

  • Cafodd y llyfr yma ei ysgrifennu i fam.

    This book was written for a mother.

• Welsh uses Mam in place of a possessive determiner + mam more readily than standard English, for example:
  • Sut mae Mam?

    How’s your mum?

Coordinate terms

• mab (“son”)
• merch (“daughter”)
• tad (“father”)

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “Mam”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies