મા

Gujarati

Alternative forms

• માડી (māḍī) — endearing

Etymology

Inherited from Old Gujarati मा (mā), from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀫𑀸𑀤𑀸 (mādā), from Sanskrit मातृ (mātṛ, “mother”), from Proto-Indo-Aryan *máHtā, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *máHtā, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr. Doublet of માતા (mātā).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Gujarati) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑ/
• Rhymes: -ɑ
• Hyphenation: મા

Noun

મા • (mā) f

1. (informal) mother

   Synonym: માતા (mātā)

2. (endearing) mum, mummy
3. a suffix for goddesses

Usage notes

• મા (mā) is used primarily for goddesses such as Amba, Shitala, etc., or for local goddesses, and carries a slightly more intimate/informal tone than માતા (mātā) as a suffix.