Mari

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mari"

English

Etymology 1

From Akkadian 𒈠𒌷𒆠 (ma-ri^ki), from Mer, an ancient storm/patron deity of Mesopotamia and Syria. Also see Nûr-Mêr.

Proper noun

Mari

1. (historical) An ancient Sumerian and Amorite city, the modern-day Tell Hariri in Syria.

Related terms

• Mariote

Translations

ancient city

• French: Mari (fr)

Further reading

• Mari, Syria on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Western Mari мари (mari, “Mari language term for the Mari”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑːɹi

Noun

Mari pl (plural only)

2. A Volga-Finnic people in the Volga region.

Synonyms

• (people): Cheremis, Cheremiss (dated)

Translations

people

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 馬里人 (zh) (Mǎlǐ rén)

• Chuvash: ҫармӑс (śarmăs), ҫармӑссем pl (śarmăssem)
• Finnish: mari (fi) (person), marit pl (people)
• Georgian: მარიელი (marieli) (person), მარიელები (marielebi) (people)
• Hungarian: mari (hu), cseremisz (hu)
• Japanese: マリ人 (ja) (マリじん, Mari jin)
• Marathi: मारी (mārī)
• Russian: мариец (ru) m (marijec), марийцы m pl or n pl (marijcy), марийка (ru) f (marijka), марийки (ru) f pl (marijki)

Proper noun

Mari

1. A Finno-Ugric language spoken by the Mari people.
2. Meadow Mari; Eastern Mari.

Usage notes

There are two written varieties of Mari, one called Meadow Mari or Eastern Mari, and the other Hill Mari or Western Mari. The speakers of the former outnumber those of the latter by 10 to 1 or more, depending on which source one believes. The English Wiktionary uses the code mhr for Eastern Mari and the code mrj for Western Mari.

Synonyms

• (language): Cheremis (dated)

Meronyms

• (Uralic language spoken by the Mari):

  Meadow Mari, Eastern Mari

  Hill Mari, Western Mari

Translations

language

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 馬里語 / 马里语 (Mǎlǐ yǔ)

• Chuvash: ҫармӑс чӗлхи (śarmăs čĕlh̬i)
• Czech: marijština f
• Finnish: mari (fi), marin kieli
• Hungarian: mari (hu), cseremisz (hu)
• Japanese: マリ語 (ja) (マリご, Mari go)
• Marathi: मारी f (mārī)
• Mari:

  Eastern Mari: марий йылме (marij jylme)

  Western Mari: мары йӹлмӹ (mary jÿlmÿ)

• Russian: мари́йский (ru) m (maríjskij)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: маријски m

  Roman: marijski m

• Slovene: marijščina f
• Turkish: Mari dili (tr)
• Udmurt: пор (por)

Eastern Mari, as distinct from Western Mari — see Meadow Mari

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Proper noun

Mari

1. An Austronesian language spoken in Papua New Guinea.

Synonyms

• (language): Hop

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑɹi/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑːɹi/

Proper noun

Mari

1. A female given name from Japanese.
   • 2010 March 9, Lee G. Bolman, Terrence E. Deal, Reframing the Path to School Leadership: A Guide for Teachers and Principals, Corwin Press, →ISBN:

     Our colleague, Mari Takahashi Parker (1993), compared schools in the United States and in Japan. She found that in the United States, principals tended to feel the weight of just about everything on their shoulders.

   • 2018, Emiko Jean, Empress of All Seasons, HMH Books For Young Readers, →ISBN, page 40:

     He hopped across and went to lift Mari, but she shook her head and jumped over [by] herself.

Further reading

• Ethnologue entry for Mari, chm ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Meadow Mari, mhr ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Hill Mari, mrj ⁠

Anagrams

• Rima, raim, rami, AMIR, Amir, Mira, RIMA, Irma, amir, mair, rima, Rami, RAIM, Mair

Breton

Alternative forms

• Maria

Proper noun

Mari f

1. (biblical) Mary
2. a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Mary

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Marius.

Proper noun

Mari m

1. Marius

Estonian

Etymology

Short for Maria; also identical with Estonian mari (“berry”).

Proper noun

Mari

1. a female given name from Hebrew

Related terms

• Marje, Marju

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɑri/, [ˈmɑ̝ri]
• Rhymes: -ɑri
• Syllabification^(key): Ma‧ri
• Hyphenation^(key): Ma‧ri

Etymology 1

Traditional short form of Maria.

Proper noun

Mari

1. a female given name from Biblical Hebrew, equivalent to English Mary
   • 1986, Aune Torkell, Kaukana toisiamme lähellä, SLEY-kirjat, →ISBN, page 118:

     ―Vai Mari siusta tuli, isomummon kaima. Suokoo Jumala et siun elämä ois onnellisempaa ko miun äetrukan, mummi sanoi vauvalle ja kuiskasi sitten niin kuin silloin, kun ensimmäisen kerran hänet näki ja risti sormellaan hänen otsansa:
     ―Jeesus lasta siunakkoo!
     ―Myöskin Akun äidin nimi oli Mari, äiti sanoi.
     Mummin iloinen ilme muuttui no johan mie aattelin -ilmeeksi. [ - - - ] Samalla hän rupatteli:
     ―Taisin ihan punaseks lehahtaa ko pappi sano lapse nimen. Luulin et Marja tai Maija, ko Maikiks toisinaa sanoitte.

     ―So you were named Mari, the same as your grandmother. God grant you your life to be happier than for poor mother me, the grandmother said to the baby and then whispered like when she saw her for the first time and made a cross with her fingers over her forehead:
     ―Jesus bless this child!
     ―Aku's mother too was called Mari, the mother said.
     Grandmother's happy expression turned into a 'I was thinking about it' one. [ - - - ] At the same time, she chatted:
     ―I think I turned all red when the priest said her name. I thought Marja or Maija, when you call her Maikki after all.

   • 1997, Jorma Palo, Uitettu rotta, WSOY, →ISBN, page 36:

     Nyt Mari makasi olohuoneen sohvalla ja katseli televisiota. Hänen oikea nimensä oli Sari, mutta hän oli niin Marilyn Monroen näköinen, että hänen luontevin nimensä oli Mari.

     Now Mari was lying on the living room couch watching television. Her real name was Sari, but she looked so much like Marilyn Monroe that her most natural name was Mari.

   • 2007, Riikka Pulkkinen, Raja, Gummerus, →ISBN, page 29:

     Ikää on kuusitoista vuotta. Nimi on arkinen Mari, kaksitavuinen tynkeä Mari. Mari on kiltin tytön nimi.

     Sixteen years of age. Name such a plain one as Mari, a disyllabic, stubby Mari. Mari is a name a nice girl would have.

Declension

Inflection of Mari (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		Mari	Marit
genitive		Marin	Marien
partitive		Maria	Mareja
illative		Mariin	Mareihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Mari	Marit
accusative	nom.	Mari	Marit
	gen.	Marin
genitive		Marin	Marien
partitive		Maria	Mareja
inessive		Marissa	Mareissa
elative		Marista	Mareista
illative		Mariin	Mareihin
adessive		Marilla	Mareilla
ablative		Marilta	Mareilta
allative		Marille	Mareille
essive		Marina	Mareina
translative		Mariksi	Mareiksi
abessive		Maritta	Mareitta
instructive		—	Marein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Mari (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Marini Marini accusative nom. Marini Marini gen. Marini genitive Marini Marieni partitive Mariani Marejani inessive Marissani Mareissani elative Maristani Mareistani illative Mariini Mareihini adessive Marillani Mareillani ablative Mariltani Mareiltani allative Marilleni Mareilleni essive Marinani Mareinani translative Marikseni Mareikseni abessive Marittani Mareittani instructive — — comitative — Mareineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Marisi Marisi accusative nom. Marisi Marisi gen. Marisi genitive Marisi Mariesi partitive Mariasi Marejasi inessive Marissasi Mareissasi elative Maristasi Mareistasi illative Mariisi Mareihisi adessive Marillasi Mareillasi ablative Mariltasi Mareiltasi allative Marillesi Mareillesi essive Marinasi Mareinasi translative Mariksesi Mareiksesi abessive Marittasi Mareittasi instructive — — comitative — Mareinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Marimme Marimme accusative nom. Marimme Marimme gen. Marimme genitive Marimme Mariemme partitive Mariamme Marejamme inessive Marissamme Mareissamme elative Maristamme Mareistamme illative Mariimme Mareihimme adessive Marillamme Mareillamme ablative Mariltamme Mareiltamme allative Marillemme Mareillemme essive Marinamme Mareinamme translative Mariksemme Mareiksemme abessive Marittamme Mareittamme instructive — — comitative — Mareinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Marinne Marinne accusative nom. Marinne Marinne gen. Marinne genitive Marinne Marienne partitive Marianne Marejanne inessive Marissanne Mareissanne elative Maristanne Mareistanne illative Mariinne Mareihinne adessive Marillanne Mareillanne ablative Mariltanne Mareiltanne allative Marillenne Mareillenne essive Marinanne Mareinanne translative Mariksenne Mareiksenne abessive Marittanne Mareittanne instructive — — comitative — Mareinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative Marinsa Marinsa accusative nom. Marinsa Marinsa gen. Marinsa genitive Marinsa Mariensa partitive Mariaan Mariansa Marejaan Marejansa inessive Marissaan Marissansa Mareissaan Mareissansa elative Maristaan Maristansa Mareistaan Mareistansa illative Mariinsa Mareihinsa adessive Marillaan Marillansa Mareillaan Mareillansa ablative Mariltaan Mariltansa Mareiltaan Mareiltansa allative Marilleen Marillensa Mareilleen Mareillensa essive Marinaan Marinansa Mareinaan Mareinansa translative Marikseen Mariksensa Mareikseen Mareiksensa abessive Marittaan Marittansa Mareittaan Mareittansa instructive — — comitative — Mareineen Mareinensa

Derived terms

compounds

• Anna-Mari
• Anne-Mari
• Hanna-Mari

Statistics

• Mari is the 42^nd most common female given name in Finland, belonging to 15,061 female individuals (and as a middle name to 9,321 more), according to August 2025 data from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of Finland.

Etymology 2

See mari (“Mari”).

Proper noun

Mari

1. (uncountable) Mari Republic

   Synonym: Marin tasavalta

Declension

Inflection of Mari (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		Mari	—
genitive		Marin	—
partitive		Maria	—
illative		Mariin	—
		singular	plural
nominative		Mari	—
accusative	nom.	Mari	—
	gen.	Marin
genitive		Marin	—
partitive		Maria	—
inessive		Marissa	—
elative		Marista	—
illative		Mariin	—
adessive		Marilla	—
ablative		Marilta	—
allative		Marille	—
essive		Marina	—
translative		Mariksi	—
abessive		Maritta	—
instructive		—	—
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Mari (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Marini — accusative nom. Marini — gen. Marini genitive Marini — partitive Mariani — inessive Marissani — elative Maristani — illative Mariini — adessive Marillani — ablative Mariltani — allative Marilleni — essive Marinani — translative Marikseni — abessive Marittani — instructive — — comitative — — second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Marisi — accusative nom. Marisi — gen. Marisi genitive Marisi — partitive Mariasi — inessive Marissasi — elative Maristasi — illative Mariisi — adessive Marillasi — ablative Mariltasi — allative Marillesi — essive Marinasi — translative Mariksesi — abessive Marittasi — instructive — — comitative — — first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Marimme — accusative nom. Marimme — gen. Marimme genitive Marimme — partitive Mariamme — inessive Marissamme — elative Maristamme — illative Mariimme — adessive Marillamme — ablative Mariltamme — allative Marillemme — essive Marinamme — translative Mariksemme — abessive Marittamme — instructive — — comitative — — second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Marinne — accusative nom. Marinne — gen. Marinne genitive Marinne — partitive Marianne — inessive Marissanne — elative Maristanne — illative Mariinne — adessive Marillanne — ablative Mariltanne — allative Marillenne — essive Marinanne — translative Mariksenne — abessive Marittanne — instructive — — comitative — — third-person possessor singular plural nominative Marinsa — accusative nom. Marinsa — gen. Marinsa genitive Marinsa — partitive Mariaan Mariansa — inessive Marissaan Marissansa — elative Maristaan Maristansa — illative Mariinsa — adessive Marillaan Marillansa — ablative Mariltaan Mariltansa — allative Marilleen Marillensa — essive Marinaan Marinansa — translative Marikseen Mariksensa — abessive Marittaan Marittansa — instructive — — comitative — —

Anagrams

• Armi, Irma, Mira, Rami, armi, rami, rima

Greenlandic

Alternative forms

• Mare (old orthography)

Etymology

Borrowed from Danish Marie.

Proper noun

Mari

1. a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Mary

Related terms

• Maalat
• Maalia
• Maaliaanna
• Maaria

References

• Nuka Møller: Kalaallit aqqi (Greenlandic personal names), Oqaasileriffik 2015, →ISBN
• [1] Danskernes navne 2005, including the residents of Greenland

Hungarian

Etymology

Clipping and -i diminutive of Mária (changing -á- to -a-).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈmɒri]
• Hyphenation: Ma‧ri
• Rhymes: -ri

Proper noun

Mari

1. a diminutive of the female given name Mária, from Hebrew, equivalent to English Mary

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)

	singular	plural
nominative	Mari	Marik
accusative	Marit	Marikat
dative	Marinak	Mariknak
instrumental	Marival	Marikkal
causal-final	Mariért	Marikért
translative	Marivá	Marikká
terminative	Mariig	Marikig
essive-formal	Mariként	Marikként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	Mariban	Marikban
superessive	Marin	Marikon
adessive	Marinál	Mariknál
illative	Mariba	Marikba
sublative	Marira	Marikra
allative	Marihoz	Marikhoz
elative	Mariból	Marikból
delative	Mariról	Marikról
ablative	Maritól	Mariktól
non-attributive possessive – singular	Marié	Mariké
non-attributive possessive – plural	Mariéi	Marikéi

Possessive forms of Mari

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	Marim	Marijaim (or Mariim)
2nd person sing.	Marid	Marijaid (or Mariid)
3rd person sing.	Marija	Marijai (or Marii)
1st person plural	Marink	Marijaink (or Mariink)
2nd person plural	Maritok	Marijaitok (or Mariitok)
3rd person plural	Marijuk	Marijaik (or Mariik)

Icelandic

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmaːrɪ/
• Rhymes: -aːrɪ
• Homophone: mari

Proper noun

Mari m (proper noun, genitive singular Mara)

1. a male given name

Declension

Declension of Mari (sg-only masculine)

indefinite singular
nominative	Mari
accusative	Mara
dative	Mara
genitive	Mara

Italian

Etymology

• Patronymic/short form of the medieval name Ademaro, Adimaro.
• Patronymic/short form of Mario.
• Short form of Amari, or a nickname from amaro (“bitter”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈma.ri/
• Rhymes: -ari
• Hyphenation: Mà‧ri

Proper noun

Mari m or f by sense

1. a surname

Further reading

• Stefano Ravara, Mappa dei Cognomi, 2015–2025

Japanese

Romanization

Mari

1. Rōmaji transcription of まり
2. Rōmaji transcription of マリ

Norwegian

Etymology

A traditional vernacular form of Maria.

Proper noun

Mari

1. a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Mary

References

• Kristoffer Kruken - Ola Stemshaug: Norsk personnamnleksikon, Det Norske Samlaget, Oslo 1995, →ISBN
• [2] Statistisk sentralbyrå, Namnestatistikk: 9987 females with the given name Mari living in Norway on January 1st 2011, with the frequency peak in the 1980s. Accessed on 19 May, 2011.

Spanish

Proper noun

Mari f

1. (colloquial) clipping of María

Swedish

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Proper noun

Mari c (genitive Maris)

1. a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Mary, a less common spelling of Marie

Anagrams

• Irma

Welsh

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈmarɪ/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈmaːri/, /ˈmari/

Proper noun

Mari

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Mary

Derived terms

• Mari crych (“a kind of cider apple”)
• Mari Lwyd (“Mari Lwyd, a wassailing folk custom”)
• Mari waedlyd (“love-lies-bleeding Amaranthus caudatus”)
• pêr Mari Harri (“a kind of orange-coloured pear”)
• plant Mari (“derogatory term for Roman Catholics or the Irish, "Mary's children"”)
• sgyrsiyn Mari Huw (“an excursion on a canal boat”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of Mari

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
Mari	Fari	unchanged	unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “Mari”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies