ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mum

n. countable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈməm// UK //mˈʌm// mum Archaic General-service Informal Slang

n. a mother. This is a friendly, informal word used mostly in British English.

n. a mother. This term is informal in register and is the standard British English equivalent of the American 'mom'.


SIMPLE

I need to call my mum to say happy birthday.

CONTEXTUAL

After the school play finished, the young boy ran straight to his mum for a hug.

COMPLEX

While formal documents require the term 'mother', most children and adults in the UK refer to their female parent as 'mum' in daily conversation.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy. Compare mom, mama.

Etymology 2

Abbreviation of chrysanthemum.

Etymology 3

From Middle English mum or mom (“silent”), reminiscent of the sound made when gagged or with a hand over one's mouth. Perhaps related to dated German Mumme (“mask”).

Etymology 4

From German Mumme.

Etymology 5

A variant of ma'am.

Usage

Often used as a proper noun (capitalised as 'Mum') when addressing one's own mother directly.

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