Word · Frequency #28380
mammy
黑人保姆（蔑称）
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
带有冒犯性，现代英语中应避免使用。
- 1.
n. an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
妈妈；保姆
妈妈；保姆
In use
The museum display explained that a mammy was once a Black nursemaid in the old South.
She found the word mammy insulting because it reduced Black women to a stereotype.
His grandmother remembered being called a mammy and felt deeply hurt by it.
someone's mammy
这个含义相当于 mother，多用于儿语、口语或方言，语气亲昵而非正式。
I miss my mammy and her cooking.
我想念我妈妈和她做的饭菜。
work as a mammy
这里的 mammy 特指美国南方历史上的黑人保姆，是冒犯性用语，现代英语中应避免使用。
Some enslaved women were forced to work as mammies in the white household.
一些被奴役的妇女被迫在白人家庭里当保姆。
Common mistakes
My mammy takes care of me when I am sick.My mommy takes care of me when I am sick.
在美式英语中，mammy 是对黑人保姆的冒犯性称呼，不是普通“妈妈”的用词；表示母亲时应使用 mommy、mom 或 mum。
They hired a mammy for their newborn baby.They hired a nanny for their newborn baby.
mammy 虽有“保姆”的旧义，但带有种族冒犯色彩，现代英语中表示“保姆”应用 nanny 或 babysitter。
Connections
Collocations
- mammy stereotype
- 黑人保姆刻板印象（蔑称）
- The mammy stereotype portrayed enslaved Black women as loyal and content.黑人保姆的刻板印象把被奴役的黑人女性描绘成忠诚而满足的样子。
- mammy archetype
- 黑人保姆原型（蔑称）
- The mammy archetype appears in many films set in the antebellum South.这个黑人保姆原型出现在许多以战前南方为背景的电影中。
- mammy figure
- 黑人保姆形象（蔑称）
- She played the mammy figure in several 1930s films.她在多部20世纪30年代的电影中扮演黑人保姆形象。
- mammy character
- 黑人保姆角色（蔑称）
- The mammy character has been criticized for reinforcing racial stereotypes.这个黑人保姆角色因强化种族刻板印象而受到批评。
Pop culture & quotes
- Mammy, I'd walk a million miles for one of your smiles.
Learner notes
Memory Tip
音似“妈妈”，联想旧时美国南方黑人保姆被唤作mammy，记住它带贬义色彩。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：历史语境、美国南部口语、争议性用法 该词为冒犯性称呼，通常用于指美国南部历史上的黑人保姆，现代英语中很少使用，多视为贬义，应避免使用。
Grammar Note
指美国南方黑人保姆时带有冒犯意味。
Pronunciation & Spelling
与 mammy /ˈmæmi/ 押韵的有：clammy /ˈklæmi/、jammy /ˈdʒæmi/、whammy /ˈwæmi/、shammy /ˈʃæmi/、Grammy /ˈɡræmi/，重读元音 /æ/ 及后面的 /mi/ 读音一致。注意拼写相近的 mummy /ˈmʌmi/ 和 mommy /ˈmɑːmi/（英式 /ˈmɒmi/）元音不同，不押韵，不要混淆。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.