Η μαμά μου δεν είναι μάγειρας, αλλά το φαγητό της είναι πάντα νόστιμο.

to be

Breakdown of Η μαμά μου δεν είναι μάγειρας, αλλά το φαγητό της είναι πάντα νόστιμο.

• δεν: not
• μου: my
• αλλά: but

Questions & Answers about Η μαμά μου δεν είναι μάγειρας, αλλά το φαγητό της είναι πάντα νόστιμο.

In the sentence Η μαμά μου, why is μαμά used instead of μητέρα? Do they mean the same thing?

Both μαμά and μητέρα mean mother, but they differ in tone:

• μαμά = mom / mum (informal, warm, everyday speech)
• μητέρα = mother (more formal, a bit more distant or serious)

So Η μαμά μου is exactly like saying My mom in English.
If you said Η μητέρα μου, it would sound more formal, like My mother in careful or formal speech.

Why is it Η μαμά μου and not Η μου μαμά? Where does μου normally go?

In Greek, the unstressed possessive pronouns like μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους usually go after the noun:

• η μαμά μου = my mom
• το βιβλίο σου = your book
• το σπίτι μας = our house

So Η μου μαμά is incorrect in modern standard Greek.
If you want to emphasize the possessor, you use a different structure, for example:

• η δική μου μαμά = my own mom (with emphasis on my)

In English we say She is not a cook, but in Greek there is no she. Why is there no subject pronoun?