मामा (maamaa)
noun
Refers to a mother's brother -- one word in the Hindi kinship system that keeps this relationship distinct from a father's brother; also has a common extended/idiomatic use for a sly or manipulative man.
Sense
1
:
maternal uncle
noun, masculine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In Hindi-speaking families, the मामा (maamaa) side of the family is treated with special warmth -- especially at weddings, where the maternal uncle has specific ceremonial roles like carrying the bride's palanquin (डोली, dolii) or gifting during rituals. Kids often use मामा (maamaa) affectionately for their mother's brother, and it doubles as a respectful way to address an older stranger, similar to how 'uncle' is used loosely in Indian English.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for 'uncle' generically, but Hindi kinship terms are specific: मामा (maamaa) is only the mother's brother, not the father's brother (चाचा, chaachaa) or an uncle by marriage. 2) The wife of मामा (maamaa) is मामी (maamii), not to be confused with मामा (maamaa) itself.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे मामा दिल्ली में रहते हैं।
My maternal uncle lives in Delhi.
(mere maamaa dillii men rahte hain।)
पिछले साल मामा ने शादी में डोली उठाई थी।
Last year my maternal uncle carried the palanquin at the wedding.
(pichhle saal maamaa ne shaadii men dolii uthaaii thii।)
मामा, ज़रा ये सामान अंदर रख दो।
Uncle, please put this stuff inside.
(maamaa, zaraa ye saamaan andar rakh do।)
अगर मामा आज आते तो हम बाज़ार घूमने जाते।
If my maternal uncle had come today, we would have gone out to the market.
(agar maamaa aaj aate to ham baazaar ghoomne jaate।)
मामा शादी की रस्मों में दुल्हन को तोहफ़ा देंगे।
My maternal uncle will give a gift to the bride during the wedding rituals.
(maamaa shaadii kii rasmon men dulhan ko tohfaa denge।)
बचपन में मैं मामा के घर हर गर्मी की छुट्टियों में जाता था।
As a child, I used to go to my maternal uncle's house every summer vacation.
(bachpan men main maamaa ke ghar har garmii kii chhuttiyon men jaataa thaa।)
क्या तुम्हारे मामा भी इस शादी में आ रहे हैं?
Is your maternal uncle also coming to this wedding?
(kyaa tumhaare maamaa bhii is shaadii men aa rahe hain?)
मामा जी, आप कहाँ जा रहे हैं?
Uncle, where are you going?
(maamaa jii, aap kahaan jaa rahe hain?)
शायद मामा इस बार शादी में डोली उठाएँ।
Perhaps my maternal uncle will carry the palanquin at the wedding this time.
(shaayad maamaa is baar shaadii men dolii uthaaen।)
मामा द्वारा भेजा गया तोहफ़ा सबको बहुत पसंद आया।
The gift sent by my maternal uncle was liked very much by everyone.
(maamaa dvaaraa bhejaa gayaa tohfaa sabko bahut pasand aayaa।)
अरे भाई साहब, मामा जी थोड़ी देर में आते ही होंगे, बैठिए।
Oh sir, uncle should be here in a little while, please sit down.
(are bhaaii saahab, maamaa jii thodii der men aate hii honge, baithie।)
Sense
2
:
sly or manipulative man (slang)
noun, masculine Used almost exclusively in casual, spoken registers, often in phrases like बड़ा मामा बनता है (badaa maamaa bantaa hai, 'he acts like a big shot/con man').
Synonyms: उल्लू का पट्ठा (ulloo kaa patthaa, idiomatic insult, different sense), बदमाश (badmaash, scoundrel)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a colloquial extension of the kinship term, likely playing on the idea of a mama's boy or someone who throws his weight around using connections -- you will hear young men in Delhi use it teasingly among friends, as in वो तो पूरा मामा है (vo to pooraa maamaa hai, 'that guy's a real operator').
Common Mistakes: 1) This slang sense can sound rude or mocking if used with someone the speaker doesn't know well -- it is very informal and context-dependent, unlike the neutral kinship sense.
Sample Sentences:
वो तो पूरा मामा है, किसी पर भरोसा मत कर।
That guy's a real operator, don't trust him at all.
(vo to pooraa maamaa hai, kisii par bharosaa mat kar।)
अपने आप को बड़ा मामा समझता है क्या?
Do you think you're some big shot con man or what?
(apne aap ko badaa maamaa samajhtaa hai kyaa?)
उस मामा ने मुझे झूठा माल बेच दिया।
That shady character sold me fake goods.
(us maamaa ne mujhe jhoothaa maal bech diyaa।)
मामा मत बन, सीधी बात बता।
Don't act like a con man, just tell it to me straight.
(maamaa mat ban, siidhii baat bataa।)
अगर वो असली मामा होता, तो अब तक जेल में होता।
If he were a real shady operator, he'd be in jail by now.
(agar vo aslii maamaa hotaa, to ab tak jel men hotaa।)
मुझे शक है कि वो लड़का मामा निकलेगा।
I suspect that guy is going to turn out to be a con man.
(mujhe shak hai ki vo ladkaa maamaa niklegaa।)
वो हर बार लोगों को बातों में फँसाकर मामागिरी करता रहता है।
He keeps pulling his shady tricks, sweet-talking people into traps every time.
(vo har baar logon ko baaton men phansaakar maamaagirii kartaa rahtaa hai।)
यार, वो प्रॉपर्टी डीलर तो निकला पूरा मामा।
Dude, that property dealer turned out to be a total shady operator.
(yaar, vo propartii diilar to niklaa pooraa maamaa।)
उस मामा से सावधान रहना, वो दोस्त बनकर पैसे उड़ा लेता है।
Be careful with that shady character, he acts friendly and then swindles your money.
(us maamaa se saavdhaan rahnaa, vo dost bankar paise udaa letaa hai।)
पुलिस ने उस मामे को बाज़ार से पकड़ लिया।
The police caught that con man from the market.
(pulis ne us maame ko baazaar se pakad liyaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
मामा
(maamaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
मामा
(maamaa)
(pl.m.direct):
मामा
(maamaa)
(pl.m.oblique):
मामाओं
(maamaaon)