माँ (maan)
noun
The everyday word for 'mother', used both as a term of address and as a common noun. One core meaning; the entry below also covers its extended use in phrases like मातृभूमि-style compounds and endearing address forms.
Sense
1
:
mother
noun, feminine
Synonyms: माता (maataa, formal), मम्मी (mammii, colloquial), अम्मा (ammaa, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: माँ (maan) carries real warmth in Hindi -- it's the word a grown adult still uses, not a childish term that gets replaced by something more 'formal' later in life, unlike some registers of English 'mommy' vs. 'mother'. In many households you'll hear a mix of माँ (maan) and मम्मी (mammii) depending on the family's linguistic background, with मम्मी (mammii) feeling a touch more urban/English-influenced.
Common Mistakes: 1) माँ (maan) is used directly as a term of address without any vocative marker -- you simply call out माँ! (maan) the way you'd say 'Mom!' in English, no अरे (are) needed. 2) Learners sometimes default to मेरी माँ (merii maan) even when talking *to* her; in direct address Hindi speakers usually just say माँ (maan) alone, dropping the possessive, much as English speakers say 'Mom' rather than 'my mom' when addressing her.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी माँ रोज़ सुबह जल्दी उठती है।
My mother gets up early every morning.
(merii maan roz subah jaldii uthtii hai।)
माँ रसोई में खाना बना रही है।
Mother is cooking food in the kitchen.
(maan rasoii men khaanaa banaa rahii hai।)
जब मैं छोटा था, तो मेरी माँ मुझे कहानियाँ सुनाती थी।
When I was little, my mother used to tell me stories.
(jab main chhotaa thaa, to merii maan mujhe kahaaniyaan sunaatii thii।)
माँ ने कल शाम को मेरे लिए हलवा बनाया।
Mother made halwa for me yesterday evening.
(maan ne kal shaam ko mere lie halvaa banaayaa।)
माँ, ज़रा एक गिलास पानी दे दो।
Mom, please give me a glass of water.
(maan, zaraa ek gilaas paanii de do।)
काश मेरी माँ आज मेरे साथ होती।
I wish my mother were with me today.
(kaash merii maan aaj mere saath hotii।)
अगर माँ को पता चलता, तो वह बहुत नाराज़ होती।
If mother had found out, she would have been very angry.
(agar maan ko pataa chaltaa, to vah bahut naaraaz hotii।)
बच्चे को माँ की गोद में सुकून मिलता है।
A child finds peace in his mother's lap.
(bachche ko maan kii god men sukoon miltaa hai।)
माँ का प्यार कभी कम नहीं होता।
A mother's love never diminishes.
(maan kaa pyaar kabhii kam nahiin hotaa।)
पूरा घर माँ की देखरेख में चलता है।
The whole household runs under mother's care.
(pooraa ghar maan kii dekhrekh men chaltaa hai।)
यह घर माँ के हाथों से सजाया गया है।
This house has been decorated by mother's own hands.
(yah ghar maan ke haathon se sajaayaa gayaa hai।)
शायद माँ को यह उपहार पसंद आए।
Maybe mother will like this gift.
(shaayad maan ko yah upahaar pasand aae।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
माँ
(maan)
(sg.f.oblique):
माँ
(maan)
(pl.f.direct):
माँें
([[माँें]])
(pl.f.oblique):
माँों
([[माँों]])