A British and Welsh informal word for mother, similar to 'mom' or 'mummy.'
From 'ma'am,' originally a contraction of 'madam' used for mothers. Common in Welsh English and regional British English, it evolved as a term of affection for one's mother.
Regional words for mother—'mam,' 'mum,' 'mom,' 'maw,' 'ma'—reveal how English split into different dialects; linguists can often guess which English-speaking country someone's from just by hearing which word they use for mom!
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