Mutter

Mutter is a German noun that means "mother" and is the standard term for a female parent in German. The word originates from Old High German muoter and descends from Proto-Germanic *mōdēr, making it cognate with the English word "mother" and the Dutch "moeder." In modern German, it is declined as die Mutter in the singular and die Mütter in the plural; the singular genitive and dative forms are der Mutter, while the plural forms are der Mütter (genitive) and den Müttern (dative).

In usage, Mutter is common in formal or literary contexts, while many speakers prefer more informal terms such as Mama or Mutti in everyday speech. The word appears in a variety of compound expressions, including Muttersprache (mother tongue), Muttertag (Mother's Day), and Gottesmutter or Gottesmütter (Mother of God).

In culture and media, Mutter is often encountered as a title or thematic element in German-language works, reflecting familial or maternal themes. A notable modern reference is the 2001 German industrial metal album Mutter by the band Rammstein, which brought the word into broader musical recognition beyond everyday language. The term also appears in religious contexts and as part of personal names and place names in German-speaking regions.

Overall, Mutter functions as a fundamental familial term with broad usage in language, literature, religion, and popular culture, while also serving as a title for notable artistic works.