how do you say mum in japanese

The go-to is お母さん (okaasan) when addressing your mum or referring politely. When talking about your own mother to others, use 母 (haha)—humble, tidy, very grown-up. Casual or kid-style is ママ (mama), and old-school folks might say お袋 (ofukuro) with a nostalgic shrug. Mind the context: use okaasan to her face, haha when describing her to someone else, and you’ll sound less like a lost tourist at a sushi train.