Mamaw
Your grandma, the kind who runs the kitchen and the family calendar.
Also called mahmaw, Mawmaw, Mammaw, Ma-maw.
Updated October 24, 2026
Mamaw pronunciation
/MAM-aw/
Meaning
Mamaw is what a lot of rural Southern and Appalachian kids call their grandmother, maternal or paternal. It is a family name more than a formal title. You say it to her face, talk about her that way to neighbors, and write it on birthday cards. Spellings bounce around (Mamaw, Mawmaw, Mammaw), but the meaning stays put: that is grandma.
How folks use it
- “Mamaw said supper's at six, and she ain't waiting on nobody.”
- “We're headed over to Mamaw's this weekend to help put up beans.”
Origin and etymology
Strongest in Appalachia and the wider South. One common theory ties it to Lowland Scots "ma maw" ("my mother"), which fits the Scots-Irish roots of mountain speech, though the trail is not ironclad. The Dictionary of American Regional English recorded forms like mam-maw and maw-maw for grandmother. Families often pair it with Papaw.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mamaw the same as Meemaw?
Pretty much. Both mean grandmother. Which one you use depends on your family, not a hard rule.