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maum

(African American Vernacular English) An elderly woman .

ˈmɔmSilenthistorical177 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🎤 Black culture & AAVE
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#1·Apr 27, 2026US

(African American Vernacular English) An elderly woman .

For parents

"maum" means an elderly woman . It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

For ESL learners

"maum" is informal English meaning an elderly woman . It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "an elderly woman " expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "maum" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

Heard in the wild
  • “For the restaurant in California, see [Maum (restaurant)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maum_(restaurant) "Maum (restaurant)").”

  • “09. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maum_(restaurant)#cite_ref-9 "Jump up")**["Maum – Palo Alto"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201205033052/https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/california/palo-alto/restaurant/maum). _Michelin Guide_.”

  • “02. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Maum#cite_ref-2 "Jump up")**["The Year of the Horses"](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/825382/the-year-of-the-horses-by-courtney-maum/). _penguinrandomhouse.com_.”

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For specific readers

"maum" means an elderly woman . It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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🎤About Black culture & AAVE slang

Slang from Black American Vernacular English (AAVE), hip-hop, drag and ballroom culture, the Caribbean, and NYC street vocabulary. The single largest source of new mainstream English slang in living memory.

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