Where does “mom-in-law” come from?
mom-in-law (English) comes from English mom, from English momma, from English mama, from Xhosa umama, from Proto-Bantu *mààmá.
mom-in-law (English): mother-in-law
Definitions
- mother-in-law
Ancestry of “mom-in-law”, step by step
mom-in-law traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English mom
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mom | mother; An adult female owner of a pet; To care... |
| 2 | English | momma | mother; A voluptuous woman; One's wife or... |
| 3 | English | mama | Mother, female parent |
| 4 | Xhosa | umama | mom, mother |
| 5 | Proto-Bantu | *mààmá | — |
via English in-law
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | in-law | A relative by marriage (or through affinity) |
| 2 | English | -in-law | Related through marriage |
| 3 | English | mother-in-law | The mother of one's spouse; A mother-in-law... |
| 4 | Middle English | moder in lawe | mother-in-law |