Community› Cultural Wedding Boards› African American Weddings
African American Weddings
New Discussion

***So NWR: Momma vs Mommy***

alfdallas21alfdallas21
1000 Comments
in African American Weddings
today was a co-worker of mine b-day and we were talking and she says in the convo "My mommy & daddy have alot planned for me this weekend since it's my bday week."...I stopped dead in my tracks because this co-worker turned 40!...so I asked her "Do you still call your mother 'mommy'?"...she said "Yeah, I do; why do you ask?"...so I said "oh I was just intrigued because you don't hear that alot in the South especially in Texas coming from an adult; nothing against it, I'm just used to saying momma, that's all."So my question to the board - is it a regional thing, a cultural thing or just a personal thing to say MOMMY vs MOMMA??The floor is now open! (I've always wanted to say that...LOL!)
Report Reply to Post

Re: ***So NWR: Momma vs Mommy***

  • mrsjamalwaliscottmrsjamalwaliscott
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I've always said Momma but I'm a Texan so that may be the case. I've never said mommy unless I was trying to pout and get my way or something.
    Report Reply
  • KimRhoneKimRhone
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I say mommie (spelled just like that). I grew up in NY so we don't usually say momma but I do call my step mother momma because she has been around since I was 2
    Lovin Kimmie
    Report Reply
  • MrClintonsFirstLady09MrClintonsFirstLady09
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Well, being that I am from the south, I say Momma all the time. when referencing to her in a conversation I say my Mom. But when addressing her it is Momma. My children call me Mommy. Now mind you I have one almost 18, the middle child is 15 and the baby is 12. They all say Mommy. My oldest two were raised in NY a good bit of their lives so I can see it. But the little one (who was raised in the South) has been calling me Mommy since speaking her first words. It's weird. I think for the most part it is regional. But this woman you work with, is from the South correct? Is she of the caucasian persuasion? They say Mom and Mommy a lot no matter where they're from.
    imageWedding Countdown Ticker
    Report Reply
  • trevette1981trevette1981 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think it's regional. I'm in GA and I've heard maybe one kid say Mommy.lol
    Report Reply
  • missevansmissevans member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm in Atlanta and those that are from here normally say Momma.  Funny thing though, we have more transplants than natives these days.  I usually call my mom "mama" or if I'm lazy "ma". 
    Report Reply
  • alfdallas21alfdallas21
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    ahhh, I see we have someone who thought of the missing part of the inquiry - what is race of the person in which I was had the convo with???...she's AA and she was born & raised in Texas and not even a major city, a very small city outside of Dallas, which would make you think that she wouldn't say mommy...that's why my eyebrow popped up immediately...LOL!... I've always addressed my mother as Momma and when I'm talking about her to others, I call her Mom...my boys, who are 15 & 12, address me as Momma and my mother as Big-Momma (gotta love the South...LOL!).
    Report Reply
  • clross01clross01
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    It depends on the situation for me.. Sometimes I called my mother "Mommy", when I want something for example I called her "Momma" and when I getting slick I call her by her first name.. LOL!!
    Report Reply
  • OFFOFF
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm Florida and I call my mommy "mommy"
    The Official Operation Five in Four Years (OFF) Planning Bio!
    Non-Pro Wedding Pictures
    Honeymoon Pictures
    image
    Report Reply
  • milana1023milana1023 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    LOL I call my mother "ma" when I'm talking TO her and "mommy" when I'm talking in reference to her. My daddy is daddy and always will be. I called him "dad" once to see how he would react and I got the side eye...so its daddy. lol
    Report Reply
  • MrClintonsFirstLady09MrClintonsFirstLady09
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Ok so she is AA and saying Mommy at the age of 40? That was a show for the other folk. Trust me. Get her home, she says Momma lol.  JMHO.
    imageWedding Countdown Ticker
    Report Reply
  • adgenyaadgenya member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I think it's regional. I call my mom "mom" (or by her first name if i want to make her laugh) and we live in Cali. She is from Louisiana and she and her sisters used to call my grandmother "momma".
    Bio Wedding Countdown Ticker
    Report Reply
  • milana1023milana1023 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Oops, forgot to mention I'm in Chicago
    Report Reply
  • Panda16Panda16 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm from NY and I say "Mommy". I didn't realize this is a regional thing. I thought it was a personal preference. Like some of the friends I grew up with said "Ma" or "Momma".
    Report Reply
  • alfdallas21alfdallas21
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    it seems as though it's a regional and personal thing (based on everyone's response) more than a cultural thing...very interesting...all my life, I just assumed EVERY AA called their mother "momma" until I became an adult and noticed the difference from people who moved from various parts of the US to Dallas...like the differences though but if I called my mother "mommy" she would flip all the way out and not in a good way...LOL!!oh mrsclintons - she wasn't putting on for the 'others' because it was just us talking but hey should could have been putting on for me...LOL!!
    Report Reply
  • Lovie 129Lovie 129
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm from VA, I say mommy and daddy, always have, always will. I think regional has alot to do with it, but also what you heard growing up. My GiGi (grandmother) was mommy to her kids, so it stayed for future generations. My kids call me mommy.
    Report Reply
  • Stephanie24/7Stephanie24/7 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    With me I am a huge! Momma's girl. So I still call my mom, mommy. LOL and I'm 34. but I'm still a little shocked by is them planning a 40 year old's party. My other siblings call my mommy, momma or mom. For my father I call him Dad we don't have a great relationship though it's a step up from bastard(excuse my language.)My kids and my nieces and nephews call he Mimi and my dad GP. They insist that they aren't old.
    Report Reply
  • pinkpanther_truckpinkpanther_truck member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm from FL and I use mommy.
    Report Reply
  • mandikaykaymandikaykay
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    This depends on what I am trying to accomplish, if I am playing with my mother, or if I haven't talked/seen her and am missing her a bit, I say "Mommy".  If we are just having a casual conversation, I say "Mom" or "Ma".  I used "Dad" and "Daddy" interchangably, there is no rhyme or reason to it, just whatever comes out first.  Usually when I am referring to them in conversation with others, I say "Mom" and "Dad".  I refer to my grandmother as "MawMaw" and mom calls her "Mom".  And I am from Louisiana.  It seems to be a matter of location and preference, Alf I would have to agree.
    Bio (updated 4/3/10 with invitations) AAW Board Brides
    500 invitedimage 301 acceptedimage 101 declinedimage

    RSVP date: April 23rd Wedding Countdown Ticker
    Report Reply
  • the catthe cat
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm from way down in bayou country, South Louisiana. It's always been momma and ma. and my daddy is and always will be my daddy. when i call him i always call him pop!
    Report Reply
  • Crystalis77Crystalis77
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am from Washington, DC and I say "Ma" or Mommy.  Mostly "Ma".  If I am talking about her I will say "Mom".  I call my father "Dad" or "Daddy".  I called my grandmother who is from South Carolina "Mama Vera" and my grandfather "Daddy Otis"
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards