มารดา

Explanation

มารดา is a formal noun meaning “mother.” Its basic meaning is the same as แม่, but it is commonly found in legal and administrative documents, birth records, news reports, and biographies. It often appears with the equally formal word บิดา (“father”) in บิดามารดา, meaning “father and mother” or “parents.” The usual classifier for counting people is คน. In respectful contexts, ท่าน may also be used when referring to the mother.

Usage

It is commonly used in birth certificates, application forms, legal descriptions of family relationships, news reports, biographies, and other contexts requiring formal or objective language.

Caution

In everyday conversation, and especially when addressing your own mother, use แม่. Using มารดา in casual speech can sound stiff or as though you are quoting an official document.

1 mother [formal] synonyms

• คุณแม่

  คุณแม่ is a respectful and often warm way to say “mother” or address someone’s mother. มารดา sounds more official and objective rather than affectionate.

• แม่

  mɛ̂ɛ mother

  แม่ is the ordinary everyday word for “mom” or “mother.” มารดา is more formal and impersonal, making it suitable for documents and formal writing.