How does the UK spell mum?

But ‘mum’ is the correct spelling in the UK, and ‘mom’ is recognised as an American word. This wasn’t always the case however. In Middle English Circa 1400s words were spoken as they were pronounced, the word ‘mome’ was used to mean mother, and was likely pronounced /moːm/.

Where is mum used?

The three terms we’ve picked out here, for instance, are all associated with different places: Mum is common throughout Britain, but particularly in the south. Mam is used in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and parts of northern England. Mom is most associated with American English.

What do they call mom in Australia?

mum
In Australia, most people call their mothers ‘mum’. But you have probably heard ‘mom’ used on American television. And some people prefer the spelling ‘mam’.

Is Mum grammatically correct?

Mom is the American English version. Mum is the British English version.

Why do we call mothers mum?

The words can be traced back to the 1500s for “dad” and the 1800s for “mom”. This, in turn, can be traced back to Latin where “mamma” meant “breast” or “teat”. From this word, we also got the word “mammalia” and later “mammal” to describe animals that suckle their young.

Is mum a real word?

When to Use Mum Mum can be a noun or an adjective. As an adjective, mum is a synonym of silent, like in the phrase mum’s the word. It is also an alternative spelling of mom, where it means mother. Mom is more common in American English, while mum is more common in British English.

Why do English people say mum instead of mom?

The typical (USZ) pronunciation of mom uses a long “o” sound which makes the word a little like “m-ah-m”. This sounds is actually fairly close to the British pronunciation of mum. By comparison, were the spelling mom used in BE, it would imply a very short “o” sound, actually far from the AE pronunciation.

How do you use a mum?

This sense of mum is especially used in the expressions keep mum and mum’s the word. In the U.K. and other places, mum is used as a word for mom or madam. It’s also commonly used as a short way of saying chrysanthemum, a type of flower. Example: Mum’s keeping mum—I can’t get a word out of her!