mother may I

noun

A children's game in which players have to gradually approach one of the players, the "mother", by asking "mother may I...", upon which the "mother" either replies positively, allowing the players to do the action, or to decline it.

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Meanings

nounmother may I (uncountable)

alternative Mother May I · alternative Mother May I? · alternative father may I · alternative Father May I · alternative captain may I · alternative Captain May I

  1. uncountableA children's game in which players have to gradually approach one of the players, the "mother", by asking "mother may I...", upon which the "mother" either replies positively, allowing the players to do the action, or to decline it.
Cite this entry
APA

mother may I. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mother%20may%20I

MLA

“mother may I.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mother%20may%20I. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mother may I,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mother%20may%20I.

Source: mother may I on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.