How to say "mom" in Japanese

• ママJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe childish, affectionate 'mommy': what young children call their mother, and the word adults use when speaking to small children. It suits cozy family talk rather than polite or public conversation.
  ママのミルクはもう飲のんだでちょ？泣なかないでネンネしてくだちゃ〜い。↗

  You've already drunk mummy's milk. Don't cry, please go sleepy-sleep.
• お母さんおかあさんJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe respectful spoken word for one's mother: address your own mom with it, and use it to refer politely to another person's mother. For learners it is the reliable default in ordinary conversation.
  お母かあさんに口答くちごたえしてはいけませんよ。↗

  Don't answer your mother back.

Use 「ママ」 for the childish, affectionate 'mommy' that young children use, and 「お母さん」, the respectful term, when addressing your own mother or politely referring to someone else's.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ママmom
• お母さんおかあさんmother
• おかんmom
• おっかさんmother
• お母ちゃんおかあちゃんmum
• 母ちゃんかあちゃんmum