The usage of mami and mamita

[Marianopolita]

The usage of mami and mamita in Spanish is one that is interesting for foreigners to understand. I am not referring to the literal meaning but rather the various other meanings and connotations the word can have depending on the context.



It can have many connotations which include:

*A term of endearment (not disrespectful at all)

*When a man thinks a woman is attractive (like a piropo)- potentially offensive or annoying to a woman

*Total disrespect (some woman are totally insulted if they are called mam? regardless of the context)


Now when another woman calls a young girl or another woman mami or mamita it is totally different. There is a strong cultural nuance in this as well.

I do get referred to as mami and mamita in Panama it has been always by other women (Panamanians) and it’s not offensive at all (although some may get offended). In the stores, or if I am in line ordering something and I am next in the airport when in line to run my bags through customs the other women and ladies call me (to get my attention) ven mam?, pasa mami etc. I know some of my friends would be offended but I noticed in Panama the usage for the most part is in the context I described and is totally inoffensive.

Whereas in the DR, I know many women who complain and I have tried to explain to them you have to consider where you are meaning in a tourist area (all inclusive) with men who purposely want to pick up women. It’s not the only usage or meaning in the DR. However, this is where cultural nuances and language understanding abound.

I am meeting up with a friend of mine today (Panamanian) I will ask her about the usage in Panama and report back. What I wrote is my perception. I would like to know hers since she is a local.

Now once again I feel this is a Latin thing and not specific to Spain. I don’t expect to hear this usage in Spain (of course I could be wrong)


-MP.

 

[frank recktenwald]

The men in Panama use "joven" to address somebody, that's the polite form there no matter whether the woman is a grandma.
Mami or mamita they mostly use when they wanna flirt.
With "mi amol" you get away with everything in the DR

 

[Marianopolita]

The men in Panama use "joven" to address somebody, that's the polite form there no matter whether the woman is a grandma.
Mami or mamita they mostly use when they wanna flirt.
With "mi amol" you get away with everything in the DR

Referring to Panama amigo is very common- a man to another man of course. Yesterday, I was waiting to cross the street and a young man came up to another guy asking for directions- amigo me puedes decir d?nde est? xxx.

Joven to address everyone is very popular in Colombia too.


-MP.

 

[Fulano2]

Amol won't work in the Cibao though....

 

[Derfish]

Referring to Panama amigo is very common- a man to another man of course. Yesterday, I was waiting to cross the street and a young man came up to another guy asking for directions- amigo me puedes decir d?nde est? xxx.

Joven to address everyone is very popular in Colombia too.


-MP.

In Panama I heard doctor as a manner of address even if the person speaking knew the other was not a doctor at all.
My Peruvian friends in Miami used it too. I was known as doctor to several of my employees until I let them know I did not like it.
Der Fish

 

[Derfish]

The usage of mam? and mamita in Spanish is one that is interesting for foreigners to understand. I am not referring to the literal meaning but rather the various other meanings and connotations the word can have depending on the context.



It can have many connotations which include:

*A term of endearment (not disrespectful at all)

*When a man thinks a woman is attractive (like a piropo)- potentially offensive or annoying to a woman

*Total disrespect (some woman are totally insulted if they are called mam? regardless of the context)


Now when another woman calls a young girl or another woman mam? or mamita it is totally different. There is a strong cultural nuance in this as well.

I do get referred to as mam? and mamita in Panama it has been always by other women (Panamanians) and it?s not offensive at all (although some may get offended). In the stores, or if I am in line ordering something and I am next, in the airport when in line to run my bags through customs the other women and ladies call me (to get my attention) ven mam?, pasa mam? etc. I know some of my friends would be offended but I noticed in Panama the usage for the most part is in the context I described and is totally inoffensive.

Whereas in the DR, I know many women who complain and I have tried to explain to them you have to consider where you are meaning in a tourist area (all inclusive) with men who purposely want to pick up women. It?s not the only usage or meaning in the DR. However, this is where cultural nuances and language understanding abound.

I am meeting up with a friend of mine today (Panamanian) I will ask her about the usage in Panama and report back. What I wrote is my perception. I would like to know hers since she is a local.

Now once again I feel this is a Latin thing and not specific to Spain. I don?t expect to hear this usage in Spain (of course I could be wrong)


-MP.

Seems to me that all baby girls 1 to 4 years old are called Mamita and the boys Papito.
Not just here, but other places I have been.
Der Fish

 

[frank recktenwald]

Referring to Panama amigo is very common- a man to another man of course. Yesterday, I was waiting to cross the street and a young man came up to another guy asking for directions- amigo me puedes decir d?nde est? xxx.

Joven to address everyone is very popular in Colombia too.


-MP.

Men in Panama do call other men "compa". Now if they have more African blood they'll say "Mo" or "Mopri" which means primo/cousin. K xopa MO.

 

[Marianopolita]

Men in Panama do call other men "compa". Now if they have more African blood they'll say "Mo" or "Mopri" which means primo/cousin. K xopa MO.

There are different forms of address in general in Panama.

I am totally aware of 'mopri' etc.


-MP.

 

[Chirimoya]

You're right - in Spain mami or mamita are only terms of endearment for one's mother, not for a little girl or a young woman.

 

[Peterj]

Mamita is also used for men that have no cojones, that are like a sissy, behave like a woman

 

[Marianopolita]

In Panama I heard doctor as a manner of address even if the person speaking knew the other was not a doctor at all.
My Peruvian friends in Miami used it too. I was known as doctor to several of my employees until I let them know I did not like it.
Der Fish

Have a look at this link:


Los buenos modales:


http://howlearnspanish.com/2011/01/manners-in-spanish/


-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

You're right - in Spain mami or mamita are only terms of endearment for one's mother, not for a little girl or a young woman.

Okay that is what I thought for various reasons. I can't ever imagine a Spaniard using mami or mamita in the Latin context (maybe just as a joke).


-MP.

 

[Bronxboy]

You're right - in Spain mami or mamita are only terms of endearment for one's mother, not for a little girl or a young woman.

hahahahahaha

Sometimes we call someone 'baby" or "bebe' as a term of endearment, as well as , 'vieja". Ex My "old lady". lol

i know I do.

 

[mofongoloco]

Marianopolita, I really enjoyed the article on manners.

I am an adherent of the telenovela method. Who knew?!

 

[cjewell]

My nieces grandmother who is Peruvian calls all of the grandchildren that are girls ranging from ages 5 years old up to 20 years old Mamita. Here generally only my boyfriend calls mi mami - however last week I parked bad a Popular and bunged up traffic and the security guard said "Mami porfavor no me haga eso"... and he was more desperate than flirting. I think there are many contectual uses for the word mami lol.

 

[Meemselle]

I saw some site on Stumbleupon that was things that black & hispanic people know that white people don't; things that white people and hispanic people know that black people don't; and finally, things that black & white people know that hispanics don't. One in the latter category was "Mami and Papi cannot possibly be the nicknames for everyone in your family."

 

[MerengueDutchie]

in my experience it is all contextual.

Use of mami or mamita from men towards women can range from polite, benign to rude.

Usually people refer to me as se?or, caballero or hermano for friends and family. Evangelicals use 'baron' a lot.

There's also 'more', 'moreno', 'mi negro', 'papi', 'patan', 'primo' but those see markedly less use

 

[Marianopolita]

Marianopolita, I really enjoyed the article on manners.

I am an adherent of the telenovela method. Who knew?!

I thought the article from the blogger was right on the money as well. It captured the essence of politeness and how it's conveyed through language. This is an often forgotten concept when learning a foreign language.

I can't say I support the Telenovela method 100% proposed by the blogger. It has its benefits and each person will discover what works best. However, at some point the grammar does come into play. I see it all the time and then the learner has to revert to many concepts that have become gaps. Fluent in 6 months? I would like to hear the blogger speak.


-MP.

 

[Marianopolita]

The usage of mami and mamita in Spanish is one that is interesting for foreigners to understand. I am not referring to the literal meaning but rather the various other meanings and connotations the word can have depending on the context.


------------------
I am meeting up with a friend of mine today (Panamanian) I will ask her about the usage in Panama and report back. What I wrote is my perception. I would like to know hers since she is a local.


-------------------

-MP.

I met up with my friend last night and had a chance to ask her about the usage of mami and mamita in Spanish. I told her what my perception was as described in my first post which includes what I noticed in Panama. She said it was exactly right and wanted to add that if an older woman whether it's a stranger or someone in your family who is older calls a young lady, woman, or girl mami and mamita it's not offensive (which were my examples) However, in general terms the usage of mami and mamita by men to women is not considered a good form of address in any context but it all depends on the interaction, the relationship between the two people and how it's used.

In general, as I said before the linguistic and cultural nuances are key factors here when it comes to foreigners understanding the usage. Some may grasp it and others may not.


-MP.

 

[Xavier_Onassis]

Haitians call each other Mama and Papi all the time in Miami.
It is unusual to hewar Mexicans say mami or mamita. Occasionally, you hear ?Ay, mamacita!