Why do people say Mum?

Question

Mom is the proper spelling. Is it different in other countries?

I kinda figured it was for that reason. I was just curious.

Answer 1

I'm from England - we always say Mum. To me, Mom looks wrong! I guess it just depends where you're from! Mum is a shortened from of Mummy! Mummy is a derivative of Mother!

From Wikipedia....
Familiar or colloquial terms for mother in English are:

1. mum or mummy, is used in the UK & parts of Canada (especially Eastern Canada), Australia, and New Zealand; and also in some parts of Western Pennsylvania.
2. mom or mommy, in most of North America (especially the U.S.). Mommy is considered baby talk. Most adults in these regions switch to the term mom as they approach the teen years. This term is also used in the British West Midlands.
3. mam or mammy, North Wales, the South Wales valleys, Ireland, North and the East Midlands of England;
4. mama and ma, in parts of the middle east, Latin America, other Spanish-speaking cultures and The Netherlands. Mama is often used in rural areas of the midwest and south eastern regions of the US. Ma is a common term in various parts of the US including the north east.
5. In many other languages, similar pronunciations apply; maman in French and Farsi (Persian),maadar in Farsi (Persian), or mamma in Italian, or mãe in Portuguese. Mama, borrowed from the English, is in common use in Japan. In Hebrew the word is eema, and in many south Asian cultures and the Middle East the mother is known as amma or oma or ammi or "ummi", or variations thereof. Many times these terms denote affection or a maternal role in a child's life. The word originates from the Sanskrit mothru or motharaha and has taken various forms all over the world.

Answer 2

In England we spell 'mom' as mum.That to us is the proper spelling,just as to you mom is the propper spelling.In many European countries people use mama.
So Mum,is English,Mom is American.

Answer 3

I'm from Michigan but I've always called my Mother, Mum. She's always called my Grandmother that as well. ::Shrug:: Just the way it goes I guess.

Answer 4

Because "Mum's" the word. Which means, keep it a secret. So don't tell anybody I told you.

Answer 5

its different in every country... but the most popular are:
-mommy
-mum
-mama
-mami

Answer 6

i was brought up in the u.k. i always said mum,from mummy