01
die Mum
mum
A colloquial term borrowed from English for one's own mother.
example
Meine Mum hat mir zum Geburtstag einen Kuchen gebacken.
My mum baked me a cake for my birthday.
die Mum
mum
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Meanings
Usage tips
Register: colloquial
'Mum' is a word from English and is used in German only colloquially. It is an informal and modern way to talk about one's own mother.
EXAMPLE
Ich gehe am Wochenende mit meiner Mum einkaufen.
I'm going shopping with my mum at the weekend.
Usage pattern
The word 'Mum' is almost always used together with a possessive pronoun such as 'meine' (my), 'deine' (your), or 'seine' (his).
EXAMPLE
Hast du deine Mum schon angerufen?
Have you called your mum yet?
Cultural context
The use of 'Mum' can often be heard among younger speakers. It can sound modern, but it is not used equally by everyone or in all regions of Germany.
EXAMPLE
Meine Mum ist die Beste, sie hilft mir immer.
My mum is the best; she always helps me.
Compare with
Mum vs Mutter
mother / nut
'Mutter' and 'Mum' can both refer to one’s own mother. 'Mutter' is neutral and understood everywhere. 'Mum' is a casual form borrowed from English and sounds more personal or modern. 'Mum' is used more in private conversations, especially when talking about your own mother. The words can be confused because they refer to the same person. The difference is mainly in tone: 'Mutter' is safe and neutral, while 'Mum' is colloquial.
Mum
Ich habe meine Mum gestern nach der Arbeit angerufen.
I called my mum yesterday after work.
Mutter
Im Krankenhaus wartet die Mutter neben dem Bett ihres Kindes.
At the hospital, the mother waits beside her child’s bed.
In real life
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