--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Madea' is a Southern term. It's short…" description: "\"'Madea' is a Southern term. It's short for 'mother dear.' So there are a lot of Madeas out there.\" — Tyler Perry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/tyler-perry-1498_dear_madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for_13287.jpg" --- # 'Madea' is a Southern term. It's short for 'mother dear.'… ![“'Madea' is a Southern term. It's short for 'mother dear.' So there are a lot of Madeas out there.” quote by Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/tyler-perry-1498_dear_madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for_13287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/tyler-perry-1498_dear_madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for_13287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/tyler-perry-1498_dear_madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for_13287.jpg) > “'Madea' is a Southern term. It's short for 'mother dear.' So there are a lot of Madeas out there.” [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term 'Madea' derives from a colloquial Southern expression meaning 'mother dear,' indicating that many women embody this nurturing archetype. **In simple terms:** Southern slang for 'mother dear' Key Takeaway Cultural term reflects common maternal figure Themes regional language family roles cultural identity gender stereotypes humor Mood playful informative Type anecdotal cultural observation When to use this quote - describing a community elder - explaining a character's name - discussing regional slang - teaching cultural nuances Key Concepts Southern dialect maternal archetype social labeling Practical Applications - naming fictional characters - creating relatable personas Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our perception of gender roles? - What other regional terms carry similar familial meanings? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Madea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madea-115574/) [Madea Southern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madea-southern-373977/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-dear-373979/) [Short Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-mother-373980/) [Southern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern/) [Southern Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-term-373978/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) ## Related quotes > [My friend Madea has "attitude" that comes with wisdom. Back in our teens and twenties, we thought we knew everything and made all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/my-friend-madea-has-attitude-that-comes-with-wisdom-back-in-our-teens/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [Dont you ever get tired of doing the right thing cause in the end it will pay off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madea/dont-you-ever-get-tired-of-doing-the-right-thing-cause-in-the-end-it/) [Madea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madea/) > [I have silver hair but I also have silver bullets. Do you want one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-silver-hair-but-i-also-have-silver-bullets-do-you-want-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I moved to New York out of college, that was my goal. To be a stage actress. And to do dramatic works. Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-harris/when-i-moved-to-new-york-out-of-college-that-was-my-goal-to-be-a/) [Rachael Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-harris/) > [People really love 'Madea' movies and get a kick out of them. They're phenomenally successful. People get excited when a new one's coming out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-mustafa/people-really-love-madea-movies-and-get-a-kick-out-of-them-they-re/) [Isaiah Mustafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-mustafa/) > [I dont smoke I just watch people smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madea/i-dont-smoke-i-just-watch-people-smoke/) [Madea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madea/) > [If anything’s going on in our lives, we have each other. One time, I was having a bad day, and I called Chris Colfer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-michele/if-anything-s-going-on-in-our-lives-we-have-each-other-one-time-i-was/) [Lea Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-michele/) > [One day I was in my room and some thing was telling me to go outside so I did, so I was out side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-cotton/one-day-i-was-in-my-room-and-some-thing-was-telling-me-to-go-outside/) [Deanna Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-cotton/) > [Mother Dear, one day I'm going to turn this world upside down." --From My Brother Martin, by Christine King Farris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/mother-dear-one-day-i-m-going-to-turn-this-world-upside-down-from-my/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“May 9, 1989 Again this year I made Mom a Mother's Day card. It reads: M is for the Morbid things you showed me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/may-9-1989-again-this-year-i-made-mom-a-mother-s-day-card-it-reads-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear; To-morrow'll be the happiest time of all the glad New Year,- Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/you-must-wake-and-call-me-early-call-me-early-mother-dear-to-morrow/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold, But the Ale-house is healthy and pleasant and warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/dear-mother-dear-mother-the-church-is-cold-but-the-ale-house-is/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Mom, Oh Mother Dear, Where Do I Begin. Your love is stronger than the sea you love is what protects me... i know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mom-oh-mother-dear-where-do-i-begin-your-love-is-stronger-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He was experimenting with being ardently sympathetic with everybody he met. He thought that might make the world a slightly more pleasant place to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/he-was-experimenting-with-being-ardently-sympathetic-with-everybody/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Why don't you go on, Mother dear?' he asked. 'It's such nonsense!' said his mother. 'I believe it would go on for ever.' 'That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/why-don-t-you-go-on-mother-dear-he-asked-it-s-such-nonsense-said-his/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More by Tyler Perry > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [Hollywood is finally waking up to the fact that people who go to church also go to the movies. I'm not sure what took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/hollywood-is-finally-waking-up-to-the-fact-that-people-who-go-to/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [I was watching the Oprah show one day and she said that it's cathartic to write things down, so I started writing down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-was-watching-the-oprah-show-one-day-and-she-said-that-it-s/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [I've been doing television with TBS for quite some time, and it's been a great journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-ve-been-doing-television-with-tbs-for-quite-some-time-and-it-s-been/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [You know, people don't want their intelligence insulted. They don't want to be preached to. They don't want to be degraded. All they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/you-know-people-don-t-want-their-intelligence-insulted-they-don-t/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [I remember being a kid and praying in the hell of my house to have somebody love me and somebody that I could love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-praying-in-the-hell-of-my-house-to-have/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [“Yes, God is real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/yes-god-is-real/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [It's a clear day Sonny, L A N D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/it-s-a-clear-day-sonny-l-a-n-d/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [I totally give credit to God for all of this stuff, because if I had tried to make these things happen, I couldn't have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-totally-give-credit-to-god-for-all-of-this-stuff-because-if-i-had/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [What I know about me is that, in order to lead, you also have to know how to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/what-i-know-about-me-is-that-in-order-to-lead-you-also-have-to-know/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [I haven't had a worst business decision, because I believe all things work together for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-haven-t-had-a-worst-business-decision-because-i-believe-all-things/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [You will always fine jealous people.They're the ones promoting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/you-will-always-fine-jealous-people-they-re-the-ones-promoting-you/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [“God has not given us a spirit of fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/god-has-not-given-us-a-spirit-of-fear/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [Lionsgate is my family, the home for all my movies and videos...and they've given me exactly what you want in a home: a supportive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/lionsgate-is-my-family-the-home-for-all-my-movies-and-videos-and-they/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [I know that there are a lot of people out there with stories far worse than mine but you, too, can make it. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/i-know-that-there-are-a-lot-of-people-out-there-with-stories-far/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) [Explore all 234 Tyler Perry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) ## More Dear quotes > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [O lands! O all so dear to me - what you are, I become part of that, whatever it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/o-lands-o-all-so-dear-to-me-what-you-are-i-become-part-of-that/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Most beautiful is the sight of those near and dear to us when our original kinship makes us of one mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/most-beautiful-is-the-sight-of-those-near-and-dear-to-us-when-our/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-re-thinking-about-something-my-dear-and-that-makes-you-forget-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. It was the start of it all and it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/my-favorite-performance-would-definitely-be-toxic-which-was-my-blind/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [Dear God...thank you for bein there when no one else was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-thank-you-for-bein-there-when-no-one-else-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It must be that I am dreaming, and that I shall awaken in a moment to see that awful knife descending toward my heart-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/it-must-be-that-i-am-dreaming-and-that-i-shall-awaken-in-a-moment-to/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There was a man named Robert Dear who in court said he was a warrior for the babies, whose ex-wife talked about his Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/there-was-a-man-named-robert-dear-who-in-court-said-he-was-a-warrior/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [Dear God, thanks for being there when no one else was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myah/dear-god-thanks-for-being-there-when-no-one-else-was/) [Myah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myah/) > [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) [Browse all 2,620 Dear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Madea' is a Southern term. It's short for 'mother dear.' So there are a lot of Madeas out there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tyler Perry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for-mother-dear-so-there-are-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for-mother-dear-so-there-are-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/tyler-perry-1498_dear_madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for_13287.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/tyler-perry-1498_dear_madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for_13287.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/tyler-perry-1498_dear_madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for_13287.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'Madea' is a Southern term. It's short for 'mother dear.' So there are a lot of Madeas out there.” — Tyler Perry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tyler Perry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "'Madea' is a Southern term. It's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for-mother-dear-so-there-are-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/madea-is-a-southern-term-it-s-short-for-mother-dear-so-there-are-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```