mamma

Where does the word "mamma" come from? It comes from Latin mamma, passing through Italian before entering English (1500s).

Mamma’s story begins in Latin: mamma meant “breast, mother.” A breast, and a baby's word for mother; 'mammal' comes from it. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as mamma. The child's word for mother, found in many languages. It reached English by 1500s as mamma. 'mamma mia', 'my mother', became an English exclamation in the 1800s. Today, mamma means mother (a child's word); (as 'mama') a mother.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mamma "breast, mother", a breast, and a baby's word for mother; 'mammal' comes from it.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval mamma "mother", the child's word for mother, found in many languages.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s mamma "mother", 'mamma mia', 'my mother', became an English exclamation in the 1800s.