Mother, there is only one, but favorite phrases, many. This reinterpretation of the popular saying perfectly defines the results of a national survey who has gathered the most epic and popular sayings of mothers in Mexico.
Without a doubt, the mother-son relationship is a unique bond that is manifested even in the way they are called and in the emblematic phrases they use. In an effort to explore this linguistic wealth, Preplythe online language learning platform, conducted a study that revealed the most common words for mothers and the most popular phrases associated with them in different regions of the country.
The term “mother” reigns supreme at the national level, encompassing 58% of preferences. However, the study revealed additional expressions rooted in regional culture. In it North, “Ama” is the preferred form of affection, while in the This, “mommy” takes the podium with 25% preference.
In contrast, in the West, “ma” is the predominant choice with 43%, while in the Center, “Boss” rises with 19%. Surprisingly, in the South, the English term “mom” has 9% of preferencesan interesting phenomenon given the geographical distance from the United States.
The phrases that Mexican mothers utter are as distinctive as their names. “And if I look for it and find it, what do I do to you?” tops the national list with 35%, followed closely by “Because I’m your mother!” in the North, an expression used to establish limits and reaffirm authority, with 33% preference.
In the East, “If so-and-so jumps off a bridge, will you jump off a bridge too?” dominates with 32%, while in the West, the phrase “When you go, I already went and came back” or the classic “And if I look for it and find it, what do I do to you?” they obtain 30% and 40% preference, respectively.
In the middle, “As long as you live in this house, you do what I say” and “Because I am your mother.” They dispute the leadership with 25% and 32% respectively. Finally, in the South, “I told you” stands as the most popular phrase with 36%.
These expressions, more than just words, encapsulate the vital role that mothers play in Mexican society. They reflect authority, love, wisdom and the emotional connection between mothers and children, being a living testimony of the cultural diversity and linguistic richness that characterize Mexico.
May 10 has a rich history and unique traditions that make it so significant to the Mexican people. The celebration began in 1922, making Mexico the first Latin American country to join the May 10 commemoration, according to the National Council for Culture and the Arts of Mexico.
May was chosen because it was the month dedicated to the Virgin and the 10th because of the payment method in decades at that time. Other sources indicate that the first celebration of Mother’s Day in Mexico dates back to 1913, in Oaxaca, when the wife of a Methodist priest found the idea in a magazine and decided to adopt it.
