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Mamá is the Spanish word for mother. It is a familiar or affectionate term used by children to address their mother and by some adults in informal speech. The standard written form is mamá, with an acute accent on the final syllable to indicate stress on the second syllable. In formal writing, madre is used, while mamá remains common in everyday speech. Variants include mami, mamita, and other regional diminutives.

Etymology and usage notes: the word is widely understood to have originated in infant-directed speech, often through reduplication of the syllable ma. This pattern—repeating simple syllables to imitate a child’s sounds—is found in many languages for kin terms. The accent in mamà indicates the typical Spanish pronunciation where the stress falls on the final syllable.

Cultural role: mamá typically denotes the female parent and is associated with care, guidance, and family life. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term is central to family relationships and is used across generations. The word also appears in literature, music, and film as a familial motif or title. Beyond its literal meaning, mamás are celebrated in holidays such as Mother’s Day in numerous countries.

See also: Mother, Madre, Mother's Day.