Breakdown of Η μαμά μου ψήνει γλυκό στον φούρνο κάθε Κυριακή.
μου
my
η μαμά
the mom
σε
in
το γλυκό
the dessert
Questions & Answers about Η μαμά μου ψήνει γλυκό στον φούρνο κάθε Κυριακή.
Why do we say Η μαμά μου and not just Μαμά μου or η μαμά?
In Greek, possessed nouns (like my mom) almost always take the definite article.
- Η μαμά μου = my mom (literally: the mom my).
- η is the feminine singular definite article (the).
- μου is the unstressed form of my / of me.
So η + μαμά + μου is the normal, natural way to say my mom.
Compare:
- η φίλη μου = my (female) friend
- το σπίτι μου = my house
If you said just μαμά μου it would sound like a direct address (Mom! as in calling her), not like a subject in a normal sentence.
Η μαμά alone would be the mom in general, not necessarily my mom.
Why does μου (my) come after μαμά instead of before, like in English?
In Greek, unstressed possessive pronouns (my, your, his etc.) usually follow the noun:
- η μαμά μου = my mom
- ο πατέρας σου = your dad
- το βιβλίο του = his book
This is just the standard word order: article + noun + possessive.
You do not say μου μαμά for my mom in a normal sentence.
What’s the difference between μαμά and μητέρα?