How to say "mommy" in Japanese

• ママJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe common, familiar word for one's mother, covering 'mom', 'mommy', 'mum' and 'mummy'. Children use it to address their mother, and it is at home in casual family talk — usually the word you want.
  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.
• マミー
  nounA less common katakana borrowing of English 'mommy' (it also renders 'mammy'). In everyday family speech ママ is the usual choice; マミー is seldom the word you want.
• おかん
  nounA familiar, chiefly Kansai word for one's mother, normally written in kana alone; it covers 'mom', 'mommy' and 'mama' in casual family speech, though it is less common than ママ.
• ちゃあちゃん
  nounA childish term for one's mother, covering 'mummy', 'mommy' and 'mama'; it belongs to small children's speech, so learners will mostly meet it rather than use it themselves.
• 母ちゃんかあちゃん
  nounA casual, affectionate term for one's mother, heard in children's speech; it covers 'mum', 'mom', 'mummy' and 'mommy'. It is normally written 母ちゃん, with the kanji for 'mother'.
  母かあちゃんも同おなじ事こといってたな。だからどうしたってんだよ。オレにゃ関係かんけいない。↗

  Mum said the same thing. But, so what? It's got nothing to do with me.

For 'mommy' the common, familiar 「ママ」 is the usual choice; 「マミー」 is a less common English borrowing, 「おかん」 a familiar chiefly Kansai term, and 「ちゃあちゃん」 and 「母ちゃん」 childish words used by children.

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

• ママmom
• マミーmammy
• おかんmom
• ちゃあちゃんmummy
• 母ちゃんかあちゃんmum