WordGarden.iomum
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈʌm/
US
- /ˈməm/
Meanings
Noun
an informal word for one's mother
a chrysanthemum plant or flower
Adjective
silent; not saying anything, especially about a secret
Beyond the definition
In British English, your mum is your mother, so this is one of the first meanings many learners meet. It is a warm, everyday word, much less formal than "mother." A child might call out, "Mum, where are my shoes?" or say, "My mum makes the best soup." In American English, "mom" is more common, but the meaning is the same.
But "mum" also has an older meaning: quiet, silent, or not willing to speak. You still hear it in phrases like "mum's the word," which means "keep this a secret." You can also say someone is "mum about it" if they do not want to talk. That use is less common today, but it still appears in stories, conversations, and headlines.
"Mum" is a common everyday word with two main lives in English. In British English, it most often means "mother." It is the natural family word many children and adults use at home, in much the same way Americans say "mom." If someone says, "I'm going to visit my mum this weekend," they simply mean they are going to see their mother. The tone is personal, warm, and ordinary rather than formal.
There is also another meaning, older and more literary in feel. In this sense, "mum" means silent, quiet, or unwilling to speak. This is the meaning behind the well-known phrase "mum's the word," which tells someone to stay quiet and not share a secret. You might read, "He was mum on the subject," meaning he refused to discuss it, or "They stayed mum about the plan," meaning they kept it to themselves.
This second use is not about being unable to speak. It usually suggests a choice to stay quiet, often because of privacy, caution, or secrecy. A witness may stay mum during an investigation, or a friend may stay mum about a surprise party. You can also describe a person as "mum" if they seem unusually quiet or closed off, though that sounds a little old-fashioned now.
So the meaning depends on the context. In one sentence, "mum" is the person who raised you. In another, it means silence. Both uses are real, but the family meaning is far more common in modern daily speech, especially in British English.
Examples
- 1
Family
My mum picked me up after work.
- 2
Direct address
Mum, have you seen my keys?
- Usage
In British English, Mum is often used like a name.
- 3
New parent
She's a new mum, so she doesn't sleep much these days.
- Phrasenew mum
someone who has recently had a baby
- 4
Parents
The school invited parents, so several mums and dads came to the meeting.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Keeping secrets
He promised to keep mum about the surprise party.
- Phrasekeep mum
say nothing about a secret
- 6
Secret phrase
“Mum’s the word,” she said, and zipped the bag shut.
- PhraseMum's the word
don't tell anyone
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- mumnounadjective
Forms
- mumspluralnounadjective