What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mum
Example
My mum is the best cook in the world. [mum: noun]
Example
She remained mum during the entire meeting. [mum: adjective]
Example
The sound of the TV was mum because it was on mute. [mum: adjective]
ma
Example
Ma always knows what to say to make me feel better. [ma: noun]
Example
I left ma phone at home. [ma: possessive pronoun]
Example
The car made a loud 'ma' sound when it hit the pothole. [ma: onomatopoeia]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mum is more commonly used in British English and its variants, while ma is more common in American English and its variants.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between mum and ma?
Both mum and ma are informal and casual in tone, and are not typically used in formal settings.
