Research question, mom mum or mother?

maelstrom51210 2016-01-21 20:44:17 UTC #21

There's nothing I can say about the American terms for someone's female parental unit that hasn't been said already. I-/

I will say that the only time I've heard the word "biddy" is when one of my grandparents said it, or in reference to old horror films about killer old ladies.

mariusthered 2016-01-21 20:49:52 UTC #22

yer well you gotta look out for those killer old ladies ( there everywhere!)

ConradComics 2016-01-21 20:58:26 UTC #23

Born in California, raised in Kentucky and it's 'mom' for general statements and 'Mother!' for when she constantly tried to describe sex acts with dad.

Honestly? I only know 'biddy' through South Park and that was from a scene where an elderly European man was breast-feeding his 'son' Bono from U2... yeah.

paracosmlex 2016-01-21 21:34:31 UTC #24

Never heard anyone say "mum" unless they were just kinda slurring the word mom. XD I'm from the Midwest. We just say "mom" or "ma" up here, pronounced as "mawm" or even "maam" depending on how far North you go. Never mother because it sounds a little too formal for casual convo. Almost sounds like you're using an uppity tone to call your mom "mother" haha.

I would say the use of "mom" or "mother" could actually say a lot about your character's relationship TO their mother, by that logic.

I know of biddy, but never used it in casual conversation or heard anyone use it casually. Only know it because of the internet, where I picked up all sorts of random words and shit from all over the place. Locally? Nope, never.

I'm super curious to see what other words we could come up with for this haha, feel free to msg if you ever want to ask about words used in the Midwest of the US. =] Good luck with writing!

mariusthered 2016-01-21 21:49:14 UTC #25

thanks for the feedback. I might at some point take you up on the offer to ask questions. I have an american slang dictionary but that only helps so far, talking to people is always much more useful.

VermillionWorks 2016-01-21 21:53:25 UTC #26

The only time I've heard 'biddy' was when Ned Flanders said it. XD

kambreapratt 2016-01-21 22:06:32 UTC #27

I call my mom Mom. Now she calls her mom Mother.

Kayke 2016-01-22 17:29:41 UTC #28

I live near New York City. I call my mother "mom" and occasionally "momma" if I'm being affectionate or want her attention.

My friends and I say "biddy" sometimes to mean cute girls, usually in a joking context. Like "Invite some biddies to the party, Frank is single and ready to mingle"