Amai (Chingezi: mother) mai, mhai kana mhamha zvinoreva mukadzi akakutakura munhumbu, akazokuzvara.

Mukutaura kweChiShona shoko rokuti Amai rinozoshandiswazve kutaura vakoma nevanin'ina vaAmai vakakuzvara. Vose ndivana Amai. Rimwe izwi rinoreva amai nderekuti nyina - ndiro riripo patsumo inoti: mbudzi kudya mufenje hufana nyina.

Senzira yokuremekedza imwe nguva ChiShona chinodaidza madzimai ari pazera rokunge vakaroorwa kuti amai kana kuti ambhuya.

• Manyenye (strong maternal protective urge) svichireva moyo waamai wakasimba pakudzivirira vane.
• Mapanze kana mabvumwa (quickness of human growth). Zvichida ndipo panobva zita rokuti Mapanzure.
• Kutimura (to tie child on back) zvichireva kubereka mwana kumusana. Zvichida ndipo panobva zita rokuti Timuri kana Mutimuri??

• Mai musuva usingasehwi mumuto.
• Nhamo inhamo amai havaroodzwi.
• Kusina amai hakuendwe.
• Chitanduro ndaamai, mugoti unopihwa anyerere: (kuchiturikirwa competent judge is mother, the stirring stick is given to the quiet one)
• Amai vanodzvemeredza vana nababa: a mother sees to it that her children become inseparably united to their father.
• Chinozipa chinoregwa zamu ramai takarirega. Whatever is delicious is to be left since we gave up our mother's breast.
• Zvikoni-zvikoni amai havaroodzwi. Impossible things are impossible things; a mother cannot be forced to marry.
• Charamba-charamba, pfuma yamai haikanirwi. What has failed has failed; the mother's wealth cannot be fought for.
• Kukwira inyore kuburuka kudana mai. It is easy to climb but descending (will cause one) to call for his mother.
• Mwana kuberekwa vaviri, mugota hamuchemi kacheche. (Some things cannot be done by one person alone, like conceiving a child).

• Umbundu vanoti mai (mother) kureva Amai. VaDigo vanoti mayo (mother) vachireva amai. Nkonya vanoti oyín (n. mother) kureva amai.
• VaMambwe, VaRwanda, VaRundi neVaHerero vanoti nyina (his, her, their mother) kureva amai vake kana vavo.
• VaWanga vanoti nyina (mother) kureva amai nyakubereka. VaSenga vanoti nyina kureva amai.
• VaNyarwanda, VaNyarundi, VaMambwe vanoti nyoko (your mother) kureva amai vako.
• VaRwanda neVaRundi vanoti nyokorume (uncle, mother's brother) kureva sekuru hanzvadzi yaamai.
• VaKongo vanoti mbuta (n. a mother) kureva amai nyakubereka. Chiaushi vanoti nyina kureva amai.
• MaZulu vanoti usinganina (foster mother). MaZulu vanoti usingayise (foster father).

• Chiputukezi vanoti mãe (n. mother) kureva amai. Shoko irori (mãe) vanoritaura vachiti mai.