aa3 maa1亞媽亚妈
Jyutpingaa3 maa1
Yalea mā
Definition
Mother, as called by her children.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Using 亞媽 is the most common and natural way to refer to one's own mother or someone else's mother in casual conversation. It functions as a noun phrase and is almost always preceded by a pronoun like 我, 你, or 佢. While 媽咪 is also widely used, 亞媽 carries a more grounded, everyday feel that is deeply embedded in local family dynamics.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 母親 in casual speech, as it sounds overly formal or literary, similar to saying 'maternal parent' in English. Also, ensure you use the 亞 prefix, as just saying 媽 by itself can sound like a direct address rather than a reference to the person.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
