aa3 mou5阿母
Jyutpingaa3 mou5
Yalea móuh
Definition
Mother; mom.
colloquialfamilypeople
How it's used
Using 阿母 is common in many Cantonese speaking families, though it can sound slightly more traditional or regional compared to the more ubiquitous 媽咪. It carries a warm, familiar tone that feels less formal than 母親. Younger generations in urban areas often prefer 媽咪 or 老母 when speaking casually with friends.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 阿母 in formal writing or professional settings, as it is strictly a colloquial term for family members. Also, be aware that calling someone else's mother 老母 can sound rude or aggressive depending on the context and tone.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
