Dice
 
 
 
 
 
Next post.
Previous post.

How’s Your Mama and Them?

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "how’s your mama and them?" is a friendly greeting that really means "how’s your family?" It rarely asks just about the mother - it’s shorthand for checking on kinfolk as a whole.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #PeopleandRelationships   #BlendedWords   #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...
This is pretty much how we say it, but it's more like 'how’s your mama an'em?' 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
This is pretty much how we say it, but it's more like 'how’s your mama an'em?' 

Pronunciation

[howz yer MAH-muh an-em]

Meaning & Usage

- A greeting that means "how’s your family?" (idiom)

Mae:
Ain’t seen you in a while!
Earl:
Yeah, been busy. How’s your mama and them?

- A marker of friendliness and kinship (idiom, cultural use)

Mae:
How’s your mama and them?
Earl:
They’re doin’ fine - ask about y’all too.
variations: how’s your folks, how’s everybody at home, checking on the family, mama an’em, kinfolk greeting, family talk
★ This phrase isn’t really about one person - it’s a shorthand for showing you care about someone’s whole family. ★

Origin and Etymology

Rooted in Southern and Appalachian kinship culture, where greetings naturally include family ties. The form "mama and them" (spoken "mama an’em") condensed into one of the most recognizable regional phrases.

Usage Notes

Still common in the South and Appalachia, especially in small towns and rural communities. Outsiders often hear it as "mama an’em," but within the region it’s instantly understood.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "how’s yer mama an’em?" Quick, run-together, with "and them" almost always shortened to "an’em."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Does it only ask about your mama?
No - it’s about the whole family.
Do people still use this today?
Yes - it’s still a common greeting across the South.
Is it unique to Appalachia?
It’s wider Southern speech, but deeply tied to Appalachian family-centered talk.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 4). How’s Your Mama and Them?. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/hows-your-mama-and-them
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "How’s Your Mama and Them?." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/hows-your-mama-and-them.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "How’s Your Mama and Them?." HillbillySlang.com. September 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/hows-your-mama-and-them.
advertisement...
Most Popular
Latest Accents
Latest Sayings
Latest Words
About
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
Slang, folklore, culture, and accent vary from place to place, even ridge to ridge - this is how I know it. Read the full disclaimer and terms of use • Privacy Policy
© Hillbilly Slang | Original audio and content not for reproduction or AI training without permission. Keeping the Mountains Talking 'Til The Cows Come Home