Japanese word

お母さん

Pronunciation

Romajiokāsan

Meaning

  • nounmom

Example

お母さんに電話します。o kā sa n ni den wa shi ma su

I will call Mom.

Illustration for お母さん (mom)

More examples

お母さんが絵を描きます。o kā sa n ga e o ega ki ma su

Mom draws a picture.

お母さんと一緒に買い物へ行きます。o kā sa n to is sho ni ka i mono e i ki ma su

I go shopping with my mom.

Core concept

Presents one's mother as a close family member addressed with warmth in ordinary conversation.

Common phrases

  • お母さんに電話するo kā sa n ni den wa su ru

    call mom

  • お母さんと話すo kā sa n to hana su

    talk with mom

Similar words

母haha: A modest term for one's own mother when referring to her to other people.
ママmama: An affectionate and informal term for a mother, especially common in speech with children.

Definition in Japanese

母親を親しみを込めて呼んだり、指したりする語。haha oya o shita shi mi o ko me te yo n da ri sa shi ta ri su ru go

Word origin

お母さん (okāsan) combines 母 (kā, "mother") with the polite prefix お (o) and the respectful suffix さん (san).

Usage tips

  • The familiar form お母さん (okāsan) is suitable for speaking to a mother directly, whereas 母 (haha, "mother") is the usual modest form for referring to one's own mother to others.

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