French words for kids · Family
How to say “mom” in French
Mom is one of the first words any child says. In most languages it sounds similar, which makes it a confident first win.
Mom in French
maman
Sounds like ≈ mah-MAH(N)
Good to know: Maman ends in a nasal sound with no real n. Kids use it for mom all the way through childhood; mère is the formal word for mother.
Hear it in a song
Real lines from our French songs, with the English meaning shown in the app:
Ma maman !
My mom!
from Maman et Papa (Mom and Dad)
À toi, maman—tape dans tes mains!
Your turn, Mommy—clap your hands!
from Applaudis des mains (Clap Your Hands)
Maman est là — viens faire un câlin !
Mommy's here—come snuggle more!
from L'Œuf de Dinosaure (The Dinosaur Egg)
2 songs that teach it
“Mom” is one of the key words in these songs. Every line is shown in French with its English meaning.
Also sung in: Un Grand Chapeau, Applaudis des mains, Les Sons Rigolos, L'Œuf de Dinosaure, Mon Premier Jour d'École.
Practice ideas for parents
- 1Let your child call you by the French word for a whole afternoon.
- 2Sing the family song and point to the right person on each line.
- 3Make a card that says maman for a birthday or Mother's Day.
Related French words
“Mom” in other languages
Sing it in French, free
The first unit, 6 greeting songs with lyrics and English translation, is free forever. No card needed. Premium unlocks all 134 songs.
About the pronunciation: the “sounds like” spellings are rough English approximations for parents (capital letters show the stressed syllable). Frenchhas sounds English doesn't, so treat them as a starting point and let the songs be the model. Songs are original and produced with AI music tools. Ideas for using French songs with your family.