mateanga

Uneapa

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *mate-an (compare Mota matea) or *mate-aŋa (compare Niuean mateaga), from *mate (“to die”) + *-an, *-aŋa (“nominalizing suffix”). Equivalent to mate (“to die”) + -anga (“nominalizing suffix”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mateaŋa/

Noun

mateanga

1. death ritual

Further reading

• J.W. Love and Adrienne Kaeppler, The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Australia and the Pacific Islands (2017)