mama

Compared meaning: mother, in informal speech (noun).

比较义项：妈妈（口语说法，n.）。

• mom

  The standard, neutral American English word for mother, used naturally by people of all ages; unlike mama or mummy, it does not sound childish.

  美式英语中中性、标准的妈妈说法，各年龄段的人都会自然使用；与mama、mummy不同，这个词听起来不显得孩子气。

  Mom, can you pick me up from school today?

  妈妈，你今天能来接我放学吗？

• mama 本词

  Used especially by young children, or by adults speaking affectionately or playfully; in American English it sounds more childish and intimate than the neutral mom.

  尤其是幼儿常用的说法，成年人使用则带有亲昵或撒娇的语气；在美式英语中，这个词听起来比中性的mom更孩子气、更亲密。

  The toddler cried out for her mama when she fell down.

  那个蹒跚学步的孩子摔倒时哭着喊妈妈。

• mum

  The standard, neutral British English word for mother, equivalent to American mom; used by people of all ages without sounding childish.

  英式英语中中性、标准的妈妈说法，相当于美式的mom；各年龄段的人使用都不会显得孩子气。

  My mum always waits for me at the school gate.

  我妈妈总是在校门口等我。

• mummy

  The British equivalent of mama, used especially by young children or in an affectionate, childish tone; sounds too babyish for most adult speech.

  英式英语中相当于mama的说法，尤其是幼儿常用，或带有亲昵、撒娇的语气；大多数成年人使用会显得过于幼稚。

  The little boy kept asking where his mummy had gone in the shop.

  那个小男孩在商店里一直问他妈咪去哪儿了。

Mom, mama, mum, and mummy all mean mother informally, but region and tone differ. Mom and mum are the standard, neutral words in American and British English, used by all ages. Mama and mummy are more childish, used mainly by young children or affectionately.

这四个词在这个意义上都表示妈妈，但地域和使用者年龄不同：mom和mama用于美式英语，mum和mummy用于英式英语；mama和mummy更偏向幼儿或带撒娇语气的说法，成年人使用会显得孩子气。这里不比较mum的其他义项（菊花、沉默）和mummy的木乃伊义项。