How to Say ‘Mother’ in Japanese
お母さん
o kaa san
[oh kah sahn]
💬 Usage Tip: [お母さん] is the common word for "mom/mother," especially when addressing her directly or referring to someone else's mother.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Using [お母さん] for your own mother when speaking to outsiders can sound less formal; [母] is often preferred in that case.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
The prefix お adds politeness and warmth to some family words and everyday expressions.
おなまえはなんですか。
What is your name?
母
kaa
[kah]
mother
母 means mother; in お母さん it becomes the polite everyday word for mother.
母はげんきです。
My mother is well.
さん
san
[sahn]
Mr.; Ms.; polite suffix
さん is a polite suffix attached to people's roles or names, adding respect.
おじいさんがきました。
Grandfather came.
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