Japanese word

ママさん

Pronunciation

Romajimamasan

Meaning

  • nounfemale bar owner

Example

あの店のママさんに会いました。a no mise no ma ma sa n ni a i ma shi ta

I met the female owner of that bar.

Illustration for ママさん (female bar owner)

More examples

常連客はママさんに仕事の悩みを相談しました。jō ren kyaku wa ma ma sa n ni shi goto no naya mi o sō dan shi ma shi ta

A regular customer consulted the female bar owner about a problem at work.

Core concept

Points to a woman who personally manages a bar and is treated as its familiar host.

Common phrases

  • ママさんに相談するma ma sa n ni sō dan su ru

    consult the female bar owner

Similar words

ママmama: A casual term for a woman who owns and runs a bar.
女将okami: A woman who manages a restaurant, inn, or drinking place and welcomes its guests.

Definition in Japanese

小規模な酒場を経営する女性を、客が親しみを込めて呼ぶ語。shō ki bo na saka ba o kei ei su ru jo sei o kyaku ga shita shi mi o ko me te yo bu go

Word origin

The Japanese noun ママさん (mamasan) consists of ママ (mama, "female bar owner") and さん (san, "polite title"); the source of ママ in this sense is not established.

Usage tips

  • The English loanword mama-san is tied to Japanese bar culture, which makes its meaning narrower than the English family word "mama" despite the similar spelling.

Word lists with this word