How to Say ‘Mother-in-law’ in Japanese
お義母さん
o kaa san
[oh ghee-boh sahn]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Use [お義母さん] for your spouse's mother or when addressing someone respectfully about their mother-in-law. For your own mother-in-law in a neutral, factual way, [義母] is common.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Adds politeness to the family term.
お義母さんはお元気ですか。
How is your mother-in-law?
義母
kaa
[ghee-boh]
mother-in-law
Refers respectfully to a husband’s or wife’s mother.
義母は料理が上手です。
My mother-in-law is good at cooking.
さん
san
[sahn]
Mrs. / respectful suffix
A polite suffix attached to family role words.
お義母さんは親切です。
My mother-in-law is kind.
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