맏아바이

Korean

Alternative forms

• мадабай (Koryo-mar Cyrillic)

Etymology

From 맏— (mat-, “the eldest”) + 아바이 (abai, “father”).

Noun

맏아바이 • (madabai)

1. (dialectal, Yukjin, Russia) uncle, especially the oldest uncle

   Synonym: (Standard Korean) 큰아버지 (keunabeoji) Synonym: (Yukjin) 맏아바니 (madabani)

   • 2015 February 17, 리 콘스탄틴 [ri konseutantin], “신내림의 장면 [sinnaerimui jangmyeon]”, in 한국구비문학대계 [han'gukgubimunhakdaegye]‎^[1], 우즈베키스탄 타슈켄트 세르겔리 [ujeubekiseutan tasyukenteu sereugelli]:

     그게, 우리 아버지냥 맏아바이나...

     Geuge, uri abeojinyang madabai-na...

     So, my father and oldest uncle...

2. (dialectal, Yukjin, Russia) The husband of an aunt of both the mother's and father's side.

   Synonym: (Standard Korean) 이모부 (imobu) Synonym: (Standard Korean) 고모부 (gomobu)

Usage notes

This term, as well as a handful of other Koryo-mar familial terms, such as 클아배 (keurabae) and 아매 (amae), seem to be used in some Koryo-saram families even after Koryo-mar stopped being transmitted to younger generations, making it some of the few Koryo-mar words that continue to be used among the younger Russian-speaking generations — outside of food and cultural terms.

References

• 우리말샘