mum, and terms for addressing kids

[PoisonedQuill]

Hi, everybody. I don't know any Japanese at all (well, I know... about three words), and I need to know:

1. The most common word for "mum" and "mummy".
2. Affectionate words to address kids, such as "honey", "sweetheart", etc. Not necessarily these - I just want to know what words are usually used in Japan to address a kid affectionately.

The more, the better, and please explain and/or give an English synonym to each word. I would really appreciate if you explained if the words you provide are cloying, or what kind of person would you expect to use them. In rōmaji, please (since I couldn't read kanji, etc to safe my life, nor would I know how to pronounce it). Thanks a lot!

 

[Cereth]

Hello and welcome to the japanese forum!!

I think you want to say "mommy -mamá-instead of mummy -momia..
Well.. As far as I know some japaneses say to their moms the word: mama when they are child..
Mothers say "iiko" to their children , such word means "good boy/girl"

Espero no desilusionarte pero no hay palabras como "cariñito", "dulce", "honey" en japonés

 

[gaer]

Hello and welcome to the japanese forum!!

I think you want to say "mommy -mamá-instead of mummy -momia..
Well.. As far as I know some japaneses say to their moms the word: mama when they are child..
Mothers say "iiko" to their children , such word means "good boy/girl"

Espero no desilusionarte pero no hay palabras como "cariñito", "dulce", "honey" en japonés

(Mum/Mummy in EE = Mom/Mommy in AE, so the question makes sense in English.)

Gaer

 

[PoisonedQuill]

Thank you (for your welcome and your answer)! <gaer> is right, btw, I meant "mummy" meaning "mommy" (the first in British English, the second in American English) not the monster.

Espero no desilusionarte pero no hay palabras como "cariñito", "dulce", "honey" en japonés

Well, I wouldn't say I'm dissapointed but I'm certainly surprised. "Iiko" is good enough for me, but I'd like to know more words, if they exist. As for "mama", I knew that, but I was wondering if there was any other way... (I should've specified, sorry), because I want a Japanese kid to call someone "mum" (in Japanese) without the other characters (who doesn't have a clue of Japanese) knowing what it means, and "mama" is way too obvious. Any idea? Thanks!

 

[Flaminius]

The most common word for mummy is okāsan. Slightly less common but you can drop the initial "o" to say kāsan. The imported mama, if I am not too prejudiced in my upbringing, is less common than the two.

I doubt īko (good child) can be used as an address for kids. Affectionate address for a child is usually made from his first name or its contraction combined with various titles such as -chan, -tan, -kun and so forth.

 

[PoisonedQuill]

Ok, Flaminius, thank you very much!

I still accept suggestions (it never hurts to learn something new), but for the moment I can manage with that. Really, thanks!

 

[etudian]

I have the impression that mama is quite common among very small kids. But as they grow, more and more switch to okaasan or other variations.

 

[gaer]

I have the impression that mama is quite common among very small kids. But as they grow, more and more switch to okaasan or other variations.

This is a bit like "momy/mummy". As people get older, they almost never use these words. They sound very childish. But mum/mom is fine.

 

[PoisonedQuill]

I supposed so. Which age d'you guys reckon kids stop calling their mothers "mama" and start using "okāsan" instead (aprox)? And what do "-chan", "-tan" and "-kun" mean? Thank you all for your answers.

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[Flaminius]

[W]hat do "-chan", "-tan" and "-kun" mean?

They don't have much meaning except that they are suffixed to names to make diminutives (something like Europrean -ette, -īte, -le, -ie etc.).

 

[PoisonedQuill]

Ok, flaminius, thanks a lot!