ma-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ma"

Languages (32)

Basque • Bende • Cebuano • Central Bikol • Chichewa • Fwe • Gabadi • Hausa • Hawaiian • Japanese • Kambera • Kongo • Māori • Mbukushu • Northern Sotho • Old Javanese • Pitjantjatjara • Punu • Shona • Sotho • Swahili • Tagalog • Tausug • Ternate • Tsonga • Tswana • Tumbuka • Venda • West Makian • Xhosa • Yao (Africa) • Zulu

Page categories

Basque

Etymology

Probably related to m-.

Prefix

ma-

Non-productive prefix without a specific meaning.

Usage notes

In words where this prefix can be found, it takes the place of the first syllable of the original word, usually with no change in meaning (compare udare and madari, both meaning "pear"). It is likely that originally this was an expressive prefix, and that many Basque words starting with ma- contain this prefix, with the original word having been lost.

References

R. L. Trask (2008), “ma-”, in Max W. Wheeler, editor, Etymological Dictionary of Basque, University of Sussex, page 278

Bende

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà- (“Class 6 noun prefix”).

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

References

Yuko Abe (2006), A Bende Vocabulary‎^[1], Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, page v

Cebuano

Pronunciation

(Standard Cebuano) IPA^(key): /ma/ [mɐ]
Hyphenation: ma-

Prefix

ma- (Badlit spelling ᜋ)

Used to form adjectives indicating a quality
Used to form the future tense of a verb

Derived terms

Central Bikol

Prefix

ma-

Used to form adjectives indicating a quality
‎ma- + ‎linig (“to clean”) → ‎malinig (“clean”)
Object IV trigger infinitive verb prefix
‎ma- + ‎dumog (“wet”) → ‎madumog (“to become wet”)
Object trigger to have done something; to be able to do something
‎ma- + ‎tapos (“finish”) → ‎matapos (“to be able to finish something”)

Natapos kong basahon an libro kasubanggi. ― I was able to finish reading the book last night.
Object trigger to perform the action of the verb unintentionally
‎ma- + ‎pasa (“broken, break”) → ‎mapasa (“to break something unintentionally”)

Napasa ko an salming. ― I unintentionally broke the mirror. Compare it when used with the suffix -on:
pasa (“broken, break”) + -on → pasaon (“to break something on purpose”)
Pinasa ko an salming. ― I broke the mirror on purpose.
to form the future tense of the verb.

Chichewa

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà-

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Fwe

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà-. Compare Swahili ma-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix. Primarily used with non-count nouns and pluralia tantum.

Gabadi

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ma/

Prefix

ma-

marks irrealis mood, particularly in command forms. it is typically preceded by a subject marker
‎ma- + ‎paura (“work”) → ‎amapaura (“i should work (a- 1sg subject + -ma- irrealis + paura work)”)

‎ma- + ‎paura (“work”) → ‎omapaura (“you work (command) (o- 2sg subject + -ma- irrealis + paura work)”)

‎ma- + ‎paura (“work”) → ‎emapaura (“he/she should work (e- 3sg subject + -ma- irrealis + paura work)”)

Derived terms

Category Gabadi terms prefixed with ma- not found

References

Oa, Morea and Ma`oni Paul. (2014-02-24). Tentative Grammar Description for the Gabadi Language. [working paper, draft created november 2013; editor: Eileen Gasaway]. Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea: SIL International. Available online: [2]. For the prefix ma-, see page 39, section "9 residue" and page 36, section "7.2 commands (imperative sentences)".

Hausa

Etymology

Cognate to the set of prefixes found in Arabic: مُ (mu) for agentive participles, مَ (ma) for locatives, and مِ (mi) for instrumentals.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /má-/
- (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA^(key): [mə́-]

Prefix

ma-

Used to form agentive nouns.
Used to form nouns of place (locative nouns).
Used to form instrumental nouns.

Usage notes

Each prefix forms a different template to which the noun must conform:

Agentive nouns end in -ī in the masculine singular, -ìyā in the feminine singular, and -ā in the plural, and the root has low tone in the masculine and plural, but high tone in the feminine.
Locative nouns end in -ā and are feminine, or uncommonly in -ī and are masculine, with all high tone in either case. There is rarely a plural form.
Instrumental nouns end in -ī and are masculine, with plurals in -ai. The tones of the singular form are all high, and in the plural the tones are all low except for the plural morpheme.

Derived terms

Hausa terms prefixed with ma- (agentive)

makaɗi

Hausa terms prefixed with ma- (locative)

masaya

Hausa terms prefixed with ma- (instrumental)

makaɗi

makama

Hawaiian

Alternative forms

mā-

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *ma- (“stativising prefix”). Compare Māori ma-, Fijian ma-.

Prefix

ma-

prefix indicating quality or state
‎ma- + ‎kala (“loosen”, transitive verb) → ‎makala (“loosen”, stative verb)

Derived terms

Hawaiian terms prefixed with ma-
mahae
mahana
mahele
makai
makala
makule
malama
maluhi
manene
mauka

Etymology 2

From ma.

Prefix

ma-

prefixed form of the locative preposition ma
‎ma- + ‎kai (“sea”) → ‎makai (“seaward”)

‎ma- + ‎hope (“after”) → ‎mahope (“afterwards, later”)

Japanese

Romanization

ma-

Rōmaji transcription of ま

Kambera

Pronoun

ma-

first person plural exclusive nominative proclitic

Kongo

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

class 6 prefix

Māori

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *ma- (“stativising prefix”). Compare Hawaiian ma-, Fijian ma-.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈma/ [ˈmɐ]

Prefix

ma-

fossilised prefix found on some adjectives

Usage notes

No longer productive in contemporary Maori.

Derived terms

Māori terms prefixed with ma-
mahana

Mbukushu

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà- (“Class 6 noun prefix”).

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

References

R.C.Wynne (1980), English-Mbukushu Dictionary‎^[3], Avebury Publishing Company Limited, page xvii

Northern Sotho

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Old Javanese

Etymology

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

Prefix

ma-

active verb

Synonyms

Derived terms

Old Javanese terms prefixed with ma-

Pitjantjatjara

Prefix

ma-

away (prefixed to verbs)

Usage notes

The hyphen is normally kept, for example, ma-pitjanyi.
Although ma- is spelt with a short a, the vowel is actually long (maa-). The misleading spelling exists for historical reasons.

Punu

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà- (“Class 6 noun prefixes”).

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

References

Yasutoshi Yukawa (2006), A Classified Vocabulary of the Punu Language‎^[4], Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, page iii

Shona

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Sotho

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Swahili

Alternative forms

me- (before i and e)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Pronunciation

Audio (Kenya): (file)

Prefix

ma-

ma class_(VI) noun prefix and adjective agreement prefix, denoting mass nouns and plurals of a variety of classes
maji machafu ― dirty water
1. forms plurals of ji class_(V) nouns
  ‎jicho (“eye”) → ‎macho (“eyes”)
  
  ‎jambo (“thing”) → ‎mambo (“things”)
  
  ‎chungwa (“orange”) → ‎machungwa (“oranges”)
  
  ‎jitu (“giant”) → ‎majitu (“giants”)
2. forms plurals of some u class_(XI) nouns
  ‎ugomvi (“quarrel”) → ‎magomvi (“quarrels”)
3. forms collectives of n class_(IX) nouns
  ‎ma- + ‎rafiki (“friend”) → ‎marafiki (“group of friends”)

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *ma-

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ma-

Tagalog ma-

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ma-, from Proto-Austronesian *ma- (stative prefix). See also may (existential marker).

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ma/ [mɐ]
Syllabification: ma-

Prefix

ma- (Baybayin spelling ᜋ)

used to form adjectives indicating a quality
‎ma- + ‎linis (“cleanliness”) → ‎malinis (“clean”)
(actor III trigger prefix): infinitive form
‎ma- + ‎ligo (“bath”) → ‎maligo (“to take a bath; to bathe”)
(object IV trigger prefix): infinitive form
‎ma- + ‎basa (“wet”) → ‎mabasa (“to become wet”)
1. to have done something; to be able to do something
  ‎ma- + ‎tapos (“finish”) → ‎matapos (“to be able to finish something”)
  
  Natapos kong basahin ang libro kagabi. ― I was able to finish reading the book last night.
2. to perform the action of the verb unintentionally
  Coordinate term: -in
  
  ‎ma- + ‎basag (“break, crack”) → ‎mabasag (“to break something unintentionally”)
  
  Nabasag ko ang salamin. ― I broke the mirror (unintentionally)

Usage notes

Using ma- implies that the action performed is unintentional, while -in is used when the action was done on purpose:
basag (“break, crack”) + -in → basagin (“to break something on purpose”)

Binasag ko ang salamin. ― I broke the mirror (on purpose)

Derived terms

Tagalog terms prefixed with ma-

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Austronesian *ma-

Tagalog ma-

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *ma-.

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈma/ [ˈmaː]
Syllabification: ma-

Prefix

má- (Baybayin spelling ᜋ) (dialectal)

used to form contemplative aspects of verbs prefixed with um- or infixed with -um-

Anagrams

am

Tausug

Pronunciation

(Sinūgan Parianun) IPA^(key): /ma/ [ma]
Syllabification: ma-

Prefix

ma- (Sulat Sūg spelling مَ)

Used to form adjectives and adverbs; characterized by; abundant in

Derived terms

Ternate

Etymology 1

Pronoun

ma- (Jawi م-)

(non-human) third-person singular and plural possessive prefix, its, their
indicates definiteness
haka ngori maobo ― give me the bone (literally, “give me its bone”)

mangofa hotu ― the child sleeps (literally, “its child sleeps”)

Etymology 2

Prefix

ma- (Jawi م-)

marks certain verbal aspects
1. indicates prolonged duration
2. indicates repeated action
  ‎ma- + ‎kokehe (“to cough”) → ‎makokehe (“to cough repeatedly”)
3. indicates habitual action
4. indicates an action undertaken by multiple subjects

Etymology 3

Prefix

ma- (Jawi م-)

reflexive
‎ma- + ‎doto (“to teach”) → ‎madoto (“to learn”)

‎ma- + ‎hodo (“to pour”) → ‎mahodo (“to bathe”)

‎ma- + ‎ngadi (“to clothe (another)”) → ‎mangadi (“to put on clothes, to don”)

References

Frederik Sigismund Alexander de Clercq (1890), Bijdragen tot de kennis der Residentie Ternate, E.J. Brill
Rika Hayami-Allen (2001), A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh

Tsonga

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Tswana

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Tumbuka

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà-

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Venda

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

West Makian

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ma/

Prefix

ma-

a prefix of unclear meaning
‎ma- + ‎gei (“to be dead”) → ‎magei (“to die”)

‎ma- + ‎dadi (“to become”) → ‎madadi (“to be, exist”)

Usage notes

The prefix ma- is subject to West Makian vowel harmony, and as such may surface as me-, mi-, or mo-.

Alternative forms

me-, mi-, mo-

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ma/

Pronoun

ma-

first-person plural inclusive clitic, we
moco ― we see

Usage notes

The prefix ma- follows West Makian vowel harmony, and as such may surface as me-, mi-, or mo-.

Alternative forms

me-, mi-, mo-

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ma/

Pronoun

ma-

(animate) third-person singular clitic for stative verbs, it
madadi sangaji ― he became a chief

di oma ma makaku i ― their child is still small

Usage notes

This clitic is only for stative verbs and does not undergo vowel harmony.

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ma/

Pronoun

ma-

(animate) third-person singular possessive prefix, his, hers, that person's, that being's

Usage notes

The possessive prefix ma- is subject to West Makian vowel harmony, and as such may surface as me-, mi-, or mo-.

Alternative forms

me-, mi-, mo-

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ma/

Prefix

ma-

forms adverbial numerals
‎ma- + ‎minye (“one”) → ‎maminye (“once”)

‎ma- + ‎unge (“three”) → ‎maunge (“thrice”)

References

Clemens Voorhoeve (1982), The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[5], Pacific linguistics

Xhosa

Etymology

From a clipping of makhe (“hortative marker”).

Prefix

ma-

let, may; gives a verb a hortative force.
Masihambe!
Let's go!

Usage notes

The prefix is attached to the subjunctive form of the verb, before the subject concord.

Yao (Africa)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mà-

Noun

ma-

Class 6 noun prefix.

Zulu

Etymology 1

From Proto-Bantu *mà-.

Prefix

ma-

Class 6 simple noun prefix.

Etymology 2

From a clipping of make (“hortative marker”).

Prefix

ma-

let, may; gives a verb a hortative force.
Masihambe!
Let's go!

Usage notes

The prefix is attached to the subjunctive form of the verb, before the subject concord.

Alternative forms

a-

References

C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “ma-”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “ma-”

			nominative	genitive	accusative	dative
singular	first person		ku-	-nggu	-ka	-ngga
	second person		mu- (u-)	-mu	-kau	-nggau
	third person		na-	-na	-ya	-nya
plural	first person	inclusive	ta-	-nda	-ta	-nda
	first person	exclusive	ma-	-ma	-kama	-nggama
	second person		mi- (i-)	-mi	-kami (-kai)	-nggami (-nggai)
	third person		da-	-da	-ha	-nja

		independent		subject proclitic	possessive
		informal	formal	subject proclitic	possessive
singular	1st person	ngori	fangare^m, fajaru^f	to	ri
	2nd person	ngana	ngoni, jou ngoni	no	ni
	3rd person	una^m, mina^f		o^m, mo^f, i^nh	i^m, mi^f, ma^nh
plural	1st person inclusive	ngone		fo	na, nga
	1st person exclusive	ngomi	fangare ngomi^m, fajaru ngomi^f, fara ngomi¹	mi	mi, mia
	2nd person	ngoni		ni	na, nia
	3rd person	ana^h, ena^nh		i^{h, nh}, yo^{h, †}, ya^{nh, †}	na^h, nga^h, ma^nh

Basque

Etymology

Prefix

Usage notes

References

Bende

Etymology

Prefix

References

Cebuano

Pronunciation

Prefix

Derived terms

Central Bikol

Prefix

Chichewa

Etymology

Prefix

Fwe

Etymology

Prefix

Gabadi

Pronunciation

Prefix

Derived terms

References

Hausa

Etymology

Pronunciation

Prefix

Usage notes

Derived terms

Hawaiian

Alternative forms

Etymology 1

Prefix

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Prefix

Further reading

Japanese

Romanization

Kambera

Pronoun

See also

Kongo

Etymology

Prefix

Māori

Etymology

Pronunciation

Prefix

Usage notes

Derived terms

Mbukushu

Etymology

Prefix

References

Northern Sotho

Etymology

Prefix

Old Javanese

Etymology

Prefix

Synonyms

Derived terms

Pitjantjatjara

Prefix

Usage notes

Punu

Etymology

Prefix

References

Shona

Etymology

Prefix

Sotho

Etymology

Prefix

Swahili