Japanese word

おふくろ

Pronunciation

Romajiofukuro

Meaning

  • nounmom

Example

おふくろに電話しました。o fu ku ro ni den wa shi ma shi ta

I called my mom.

Illustration for おふくろ (mom)

More examples

私のおふくろは料理が得意です。watashi no o fu ku ro wa ryō ri ga toku i de su

My mom is a good cook.

Core concept

It presents one's mother as a familiar, close family figure rather than using a formal label.

Common phrases

  • おふくろに電話するo fu ku ro ni den wa su ru

    call mom

  • おふくろの味o fu ku ro no aji

    taste of home cooking

Similar words

お母さんokāsan: A familiar term for a mother used in direct address and everyday reference.
母親hahaoya: A neutral word for a mother that describes the family relationship without a familiar tone.
母haha: A formal word for one's own mother, especially in speech with people outside the family.

Definition in Japanese

自分の母親を親しみを込めていう語。ji bun no haha oya o shita shi mi o ko me te i u go

Word origin

おふくろ (ofukuro) is a Japanese colloquial term with no certain etymology; the spelling お袋 (ofukuro) records a conventional form, not a confirmed derivation from 袋 (fukuro, "bag").

Usage tips

  • Unlike the English term "mom", おふくろ (ofukuro) normally refers to the speaker's own mother rather than serving as a neutral label for any mother.

Word lists with this word