British Flutherites, how do you spell the diminutive of "mother"?
Asked by
MrItty (
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)
December 28th, 2009
I know that Brits pronounce the word “Mommy” as “Mummy”, and “Mom” as “Mum”. But how is it spelled? Is the spelling the same as it is here in the States, or do you spell it the way it sounds (to us)?
On a related note, if the word is actually spelled “Mummy” there, do you have another word for an Egyptian pharoh preserved in bandages? Or is “Mummy” dual-purposed?
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21 Answers
Being Australian i think i use the British version of mum and mummy, which are indeed spelt with the U – For egyptian mummies etc we still use the U as well, and is dual purpose like many other words in the english language, British or US.
Us northerners say Mam or Ma.
We say “Mum” / “Mummy” in Scotland, or “Ma” or “Maw” but our spelling of an egyptian Mummy is the same, “Mummy”
I’ve heard some kids say “Mom” recently so looks like American Slang is finding it’s way over here too. lol
I say and write mum, and I use mummy for dead pharaohs too.
Why only Brits? I grew up in New England. My mother was Mummy (so spelled, so pronounced). It was not unusual. And so was I to my kids, even here in California. I am not and have never been “mom.”
This is not a matter of pronouncing the word “mommy” as “mummy.” It is a different word.
@Jeruba I submit that you are in the minority. I’ve never heard Americans – certainly not from my native New England – use “mum” or “mummy”.
You don’t have to submit anything, @MrItty. Nothing is on trial. And I did not claim to be minority or majority. I am simply responding with a true statement, which I presume you are not challenging.
I am native too, dear. Born in Vermont, raised in Massachusetts.
mum, but mam is more the norm in Wales.
In some parts of Glasgow Mum is pronounced “sister….....................”
:0)
Pronounced “mum” spelled “mum”. It is a different word to “mom”
Regionally “Mam” and “Mammy” can also be quite common. Also pronounced as it is written.
@Jeruba I’m sorry if I’m coming off rude. You asked “Why only Brits” and I tried to explain – because in my experience, the vast majority of Americans use “Mommy”.
My mother-in-law from Liverpool is Mum (oh, would that she were!)
The only ones I know are, Ma,Mam,Mum,Mummy.
i believe people on the East coast do use Mum, Mummy, i’ve heard that, i am guessing that they all derive from Mammary or some breast related word. Btw i don’t want to ever be called mommal or mummal.
Here in Australia we spell it “mum”.
@mammal For people on this East Coast, that is “Joisey.” it’s definitely either “Mom” or “Mommy”
Hi.I am not a native speaker and iam teaching english to preschoolers..What should i use? mummy or mumy or mommy?I am a little confused :(. Thanks
@Nonshe English English would be “Mum” or “Mummy”; American English would be “Mom” or “Mommy.”
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