Korean word

엄마

Pronunciation

Romanizationeomma

Meaning

  • nounmom

Example

오늘 엄마가 집에 와요.o neul eom ma ga chi be wa yo

Today, Mom is coming home.

Illustration for 엄마 (mom)

More examples

주말에 엄마랑 시장에 갔어요.chu ma re eom ma rang si jang e ka sseo yo

I went to the market with Mom over the weekend.

Core concept

A warm, familiar name used by children and family members for their mother.

Common phrases

  • 엄마랑eom ma rang

    with mom

  • 엄마한테 전화하다eom ma han te cheon hwa ha da

    call mom

  • 엄마가 보고 싶다eom ma ga po go sip tta

    miss mom

Similar words

어머니eomeoni: A standard word for a mother that fits everyday speech and more formal settings.
어머님eomeonim: A respectful term for one's own mother or someone else's mother.

Definition in Korean

아이들이나 가족이 쓰는, 감정이 담긴 친근한 어머니 호칭으로서의 말a i deu ri na ka jo gi sseu neun kam jeong i tam gin chin geun han eo meo ni ho ching eu ro seo ui mal

Word origin

The term likely grew from child speech and the simple ma-like sounds found in many early words for a mother, although its exact history is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • A child may call out this short word by itself when seeking a mother's attention.

Word lists with this word