ama

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ama"

Languages (97)

Translingual • English

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Page categories

Translingual

Etymology

Clipping of English Amanayé.

Symbol

ama

1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Amanayé.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Amanayé terms

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɑː.mə/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (Singapore English) IPA^(key): /ˈɑː.mɑ/
• Rhymes: (Received Pronunciation, General American) -ɑːmə

Etymology 1

From Portuguese ama (“female nurse”), from Medieval Latin amma (“wet nurse, amma”), perhaps an alteration of mamma, of imitative origin, or from Ancient Greek.

Noun

ama (plural amas)

1. Alternative spelling of amah.
   • 1910, Mary F. Roulet, The Spaniard at Home, page 14:

     Not only does the baby have a jewel then, or some handsome gift, but his ama (nurse) is remembered with a bright gold doubloon (sixteen dollars).

   • 2007, Ondina E. González, Bianca Premo, Raising an Empire, page 143:

     Again as with Juan, shortly after the religious rite the children would be transferred to the care of wet nurses, or amas, who would take them into their individual homes.

   • 2013, Maria Aurora Couto, Filomena's Journey:

     It was rumoured that she had been his ama, the wet nurse who then became part of the family, taking charge so effectively that she ruled the household.

Translations

amah — see amah

Etymology 2

An ama.

From Japanese あま.

Noun

ama (plural amas)

1. A traditional Japanese pearl diver, usually female, who mainly dives for seafood, typically without any tool for breathing.

Etymology 3

From Polynesian.

Noun

ama (plural amas)

1. (nautical) The float on the outrigger of a proa or trimaran.

Translations

float

• Māori: kōrewa

Etymology 4

From Sanskrit अम (ama, “disease”).

Noun

ama (countable and uncountable, plural amas)

1. (Ayurveda) A toxic byproduct of improper or incomplete digestion.

Etymology 5

Unknown.

Noun

ama (plural amas)

1. Fabric made from the hair of a camel or goat.

Translations

fabric

Etymology 6

From Hokkien 阿媽 / 阿妈 (a-má, “paternal grandmother”). See also Hokkien 俺媽 / 俺妈 (án-má), Portuguese Templo de A-Má.

Alternative forms

• amah, ahma, amma

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔɐˈma/

Noun

ama (plural amas)

1. (Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial) paternal grandmother; paternal grandma
   • 2012, Andrew Drilon, “Two Women Worth Watching”, in Charles Tan, editor, Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology‎^[5], Maple Shade, New Jersey: Lethe Press, Inc., page 8:

     "Perhaps," her grandmother had said. She was nearing death at that point, Mia's ama. Her body was wracked with arthritis, rheumatism, Parkinson's, osteoporosis and more. The maids said she was crazy with pain, and perhaps too far gone to even think properly.

2. (Philippines, Chinese Filipino, colloquial) term of address for one's paternal grandmother
   • 2017, Ari C. Dy, “Introduction”, in Chinese Buddhism in Catholic Philippines: Syncretism as Identity‎^[6], Anvil Publishing, Inc.:

     There would always be some food offerrings there, and every morning, Amma would burn some incense. More elaborate offerings were made on the anniversaries of his birth and death, and the Chinese festivals for the dead such as Qingming in April and the Hungry Ghosts on the seventh lunar month.

Coordinate terms

• (paternal male): angkong
• (maternal female): guama
• (maternal male): guakong

Etymology 7

Initialism.

Prepositional phrase

ama

1. Alternative form of AMA (“against medical advice”).

Anagrams

• AAM, aam, maa

Abau

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ama/

Interjection

ama

1. address term for multiple males or a group listen, men! hey guys!

References

SIL International (2020), “Abau Dictionary”, in Webonary.org‎^[7]

Afar

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈma/ [ʔʌˈmʌ]
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Determiner

amá

1. this, that, these, those (masculine; near the spoken to)

See also

Afar demonstrative determiners

	masculine	feminine
proximal	á	tá
medial	amá	tamá
distal	wóo	tóo
very distal	wótti

References

• E. M. Parker; R. J. Hayward (1985), “ama”, in An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN
• Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015), L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)‎^[8], Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis)

Akan

Preposition

ama

1. for

Aklanon

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *ama-h.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔaˈma/ [ʔaˈma]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

amá

1. father

Derived terms

• ama-ama
• amanggueang
• kaamahan
• mag-ama

Albanian

Alternative forms

• amo

Etymology

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish اما (ammâ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈama]

Conjunction

ama

1. but, however

   Synonyms: megjithatë, mirëpo, por

Alladian

Noun

ama

1. village

References

• Marc Augé, Le rivage alladian: organisation et évolution des villages alladian

Amis

Noun

ama

1. grandmother

References

• 阿美語中部方言辭典 [Dictionary of the Central Dialect of Amis]‎^[9] (in Chinese), Taiwan: Council of Indigenous Peoples, 2024

Ashkun

Etymology

From Proto-Nuristani, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *dmáHnaH.

Noun

amá (Sanu)

1. house
2. room

Asoa

Etymology

Compare Mangbetu àmà.

Pronoun

ama

1. we

Further reading

• Asoa Swadesh List

Basque

Etymology

Nursery-word, first attested in the 15th century.(Can this⁽⁺⁾ etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ama/ [a.ma]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ama, -a
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Noun

ama anim

1. mother
2. origin

Declension

Declension of ama (anim a-stem)

	indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive	ama	ama	amak	amok
ergative	amak	amak	amek	amok
dative	amari	amari	amei	amoi
genitive	amaren	amaren	amen	amon
comitative	amarekin	amarekin	amekin	amokin
causative	amarengatik	amarengatik	amengatik	amongatik
benefactive	amarentzat	amarentzat	amentzat	amontzat
instrumental	amaz	amaz	amez	amotaz
inessive	amarengan	amarengan	amengan	amongan
locative	—	—	—	—
allative	amarengana	amarengana	amengana	amongana
terminative	amarenganaino	amarenganaino	amenganaino	amonganaino
directive	amarenganantz	amarenganantz	amenganantz	amonganantz
destinative	amarenganako	amarenganako	amenganako	amonganako
ablative	amarengandik	amarengandik	amengandik	amongandik
partitive	amarik	—	—	—
prolative	amatzat	—	—	—

Derived terms

• ama besoetako (“godmother”)
• Ama Birjina (“Virgin Mary”)
• ama familiako
• ama nagusi
• ama ponteko (“godmother”)
• ama-alaba (“mother and daughter”)
• ama-eskola (“preschool”)
• ama-esne
• ama-hizkuntza (“mother tongue”)
• ama-seme (“mother and son”)
• amabisaba (“great-grandmother”)
• amabitxi (“godmother”)
• amagai (“mother-to-be”)
• amaginarreba (“mother-in-law”)
• amagoi
• amakide
• amaldeko
• amama (“grandmother”)
• amandre
• amaorde
• amaordeko
• amaso
• amatar (“motherly”)
• amatasun
• amatiar (“maternal”)
• amatu (“to mother”)
• amatxo
• amatzako
• amazulo
• amona (“grandmother”)

Further reading

• “ama”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language]
• “ama”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Betawi

Alternative forms

• amè (Urban Jakarta)

Etymology

Clipping of sama, from Classical Malay sama (“same”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ama/

  • Audio (Bekasi):

    (file)

  • Audio (Gandaria Selatan):

    (file)

• (Urban Jakarta) IPA^(key): /amɛ/

  • Audio:

    (file)

• Rhymes: -a
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Conjunction

ama

1. and

   Synonyms: èn, dan

Preposition

ama

1. with (against; alongside; in addition to)

   Synonym: dengen

2. with; by means of (used to indicate the instrument of an action)

   Synonym: paké

3. to; at (used to indicate the target or recipient of an action)

   Synonym: ke

4. by (used to indicate the agent of an action in a passive clause)

Usage notes

For many speakers, ama is contrastive with sama (“same, together”), though in some speakers the latter may occasionally be used in place of ama (but never vice-versa).

Descendants

• → Indonesian: ama
  • → Indonesian: sama (semantic loan)

Further reading

• Chaer, A. (2009) [1976], “amè”, in Kamus dialek Jakarta [Dictionary of the Jakarta dialect], revised edition (in Indonesian), Depok: Masup Jakarta, →ISBN, page 10

Bolinao

Noun

ama

1. father

Buhid

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *amax.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʔama/ [ˈʔa.ma]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

ama (Buhid spelling ᝀᝋ)

1. man; male; boy

   Coordinate term: ina

2. father

   Synonyms: mama, amang

   Coordinate term: ina

Catalan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [ˈa.mə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia, Northwestern) [ˈa.ma]

Etymology 1

From Late Latin amma

Noun

ama f (plural ames)

1. wet nurse

   Synonym: dida

2. mistress

   Synonym: mestressa

Derived terms

• amo

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

ama

1. inflection of amar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “ama”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Cebuano

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *ama-h.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔaˈma/ [ʔɐˈma]
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Noun

amá (Badlit spelling ᜀᜋ)

1. (obsolete) a male parent; a father

   Synonyms: amahan, papa, tatay

Central Bikol

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *ama-h.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔaˈmaʔ/ [ʔaˈmaʔ]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Noun

amâ (feminine ina, Basahan spelling ᜀᜋ)

1. father

   Synonyms: papa, tatay, papay

Chayuco Mixtec

Etymology

From Proto-Mixtec *awą.

Adverb

ama

1. (interrogative) when

Conjunction

ama

1. when

References

• Pensinger, Brenda J. (1974), Diccionario mixteco-español, español-mixteco (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 18)‎^[10] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: El Instituto Lingüístico de Verano en coordinación con la Secretaría de Educación Pública a través de la Dirección General de Educación Extraescolar en el Medio Indígena, pages 3, 86

Chungli Ao

Etymology 1

Postposition

ama

1. like, as (a similar thing)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a˥.maʔ˩/, [a˥.maʔ˩]

Verb

ama

1. to slap

Inflection

Inflection of ama (Chungli)

		Affirmative	Negative
Past	Simple	ama	mama
	Perfect	maogo	memaogo
Present	Simple	amar	mamar
	Progressive	madar madagi	memadar memadagi
Future/infinitive		amatsü	mamatsü
Imperative		mang	tama
Present participle		ma-a	memai
Conditional		mara marabang	memara memarabang

Further reading

• Bruhn, Daniel Wayne (2014), A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Central Naga‎^[11], Berkeley: University of California, page 78
• Gowda, K. S. Gurubasave (1985), Ao-English-Hindi Dictionary, Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages, page 8
• Clark, Mary M. (1893), Ao Naga grammar with illustrative phrases and vocabulary, Molung: Assam Secretariat Printing Office, page 136

Daga

Noun

ama

1. breast

References

• Andrew Pawley et al., "The Trans New Guinea family", in The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide (2018, →ISBN)

Domari

Etymology

Ultimately from Sanskrit अस्मे (asmé) (locative of वयम् (vayam, “we”)), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *asmáy, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥smé. Cognate with Hindi हम (ham), Urdu ہَم (ham), Punjabi ਅਸੀਂ (asī̃), Marathi आम्ही (āmhī), Konkani आमि (āmi), Assamese আমি (ami).

Pronoun

ama (plural eme)

1. I; first-person singular pronoun

References

• Matras, Yaron (2012), A Grammar of Domari (Mouton Grammar Library)‎^[12], Walter de Gruyter, →ISBN

Eastern Bontoc

Noun

ama

1. father

Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl

Adverb

ama

1. now

Esperanto

Etymology

Etymology tree

Esperanto ami

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Italic *-ā

Latin -ader.

▲

Latin -a

Italian -ader.

▲

Latin -a

Old Spanish -a

Spanish -ader.

Esperanto -a

Esperanto ama

From ami + -a.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈama/

• Audio 1:

  (file)

• Audio 2:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Adjective

ama (accusative singular aman, plural amaj, accusative plural amajn)

1. loving, with love, relating to or characterized by love

   ama rememoro / sento.

   loving memory / feeling of love.

   • (Can we date this quote?), Heinrich August Luyken, Stranga Heredaĵo, Ĉapitro 3,

     Per amaj, kunsentaj vortoj Leonardo sukcesis plie firmigi la konfidon de la junulo [...]

     Through loving, sympathetic words Leonardo managed to strengthen the youth’s trust [in him] further.

Further reading

• “ama”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN

Galician

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈama/ [ˈa.mɐ]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Etymology 1

From Old Galician-Portuguese ama (“mistress”), from Hispanic Late Latin amma, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *amma- (“mother”).

Noun

ama f (plural amas)

1. mistress
2. wet nurse
3. housekeeper
   • 1448, X. Ferro Couselo, editor, A vida e a fala dos devanceiros, Vigo: Galaxia, page 295:

     Iten, Johán Cortido, vesiño da çidade d'Ourense, et sua ama diseron, por lo dito juramento que feito avyan, que omes de Aluaro de Taboa[da] que lle lleuaron e tomaron do seu lugar de Casa Noua sete mantas e hun alfamare e tres sabaas de cama et hun pano de cabeça et quatro toucas et hun sodario et viinte e duas maranas de fiado delgado et seys bincos de prata et huas doas de viinte pares de doas et hun leitón, por que lle dauan dosentos mrs, et seys sacos et dous coitellos de mesa et çen mrs vellos en diñeiros, et tres capilejos et dous vntos, et dous legóos nouos et hun espeto et hua fouçe et hun caldeiro de cobre et hun manto vermello et hua sabaa, e que todo lle tomaran e que a apancaran e que a encheran de couçes

     Item, Xoán Cortido, citizen of the city of Ourense, and his housekeeper, told, under the oath they'd done, that men of Álvaro de Taboada took from them and took in their place of Casa Nova: seven blankets, a quilt, three bedsheets, a cloth for the head, and four shawls and a shroud and twenty two skeins of thin yarn and six silver earrings and twenty pairs of beads and a sucking piglet, for which they would give two hundred maravedis, and six bags and two table knives and a hundred old maravedis in coins, and three coifs and two lards, and two new hoes and a roasting skewer and a sickle and a copper cauldron and a red robe and a sheet, and that all this they took and that they beat her up and filled her with kicks

Etymology 2

Verb

ama

1. inflection of amar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “ama”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• “ama” in Xavier Varela Barreiro & Xavier Gómez Guinovart: Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval. SLI / Grupo TALG / ILG, 2006-2016.
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “ama”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “ama”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “ama”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN
• “ama”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026
• “ama”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026

Galoli

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *ama—h.

Noun

ama

1. father

Garo

Etymology

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

Noun

ama

1. mother

Synonyms

• ma·gipa

References

• Burling, R. (2003), The Language of the Modhupur Mandi (Garo) Vol. II: The Lexicon‎^[13], Bangladesh: University of Michigan, page 375

Gun

Etymology

Cognate with Saxwe Gbe ama, Aja (West Africa) ama, Fon ama.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ā.mà/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

amà (plural amà lẹ)

1. leaf

Hanunoo

Alternative forms

• ama'

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *amá-q, from Proto-Austronesian *amax.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʔamaʔ/ [ˈʔɐ.mɐʔ]
• Rhymes: -amaʔ
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

amà (Hanunoo spelling ᜠᜫ)

1. father

Usage notes

• The vocative form amang is also used when calling one's father instead of referring to the father.

Derived terms

• ama nagbakulod
• ama nagtanggapa
• ama ulong
• amaa
• amang

Further reading

• Conklin, Harold C. (1953), Hanunóo-English Vocabulary (University of California Publications in Linguistics), volume 9, London, England: University of California Press, →OCLC, page 27
• Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*amax”, in the CLDF dataset from The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–), →DOI

Hawaiian

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *hama, from Proto-Central Pacific *cama, from Proto-Oceanic *saman, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *saman, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *saman, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *saʀman. Cognates include Māori ama and Tongan hama.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.ma/, [ˈɐ.mə]

Noun

ama

1. outrigger float

References

• Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H. (1986), “ama”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN

Hoyahoya

Noun

ama

1. man

References

• Philip Carr, Hoyahoya organised phonology data (2006)

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɒmɒ]
• Rhymes: -mɒ
• Hyphenation: ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Determiner

ama

1. (archaic, literary) alternative form of amaz before consonants: that (as in yon or yonder)

   Coordinate term: eme

Usage notes

See at eme.

Related terms

• amaz

Further reading

• ama in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
• ama, redirecting to amaz in Ittzés, Nóra (ed.). A magyar nyelv nagyszótára (‘A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress)

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse ama.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aːma

Verb

ama (weak verb, third-person singular past indicative amaði, supine amað)

1. to trouble

Conjugation

ama – active voice (germynd)

infinitive nafnháttur		að ama
supine sagnbót		amað
present participle lýsingarháttur nútíðar		amandi
		indicative framsöguháttur			subjunctive viðtengingarháttur
		present nútíð	past þátíð		present nútíð	past þátíð
singular	ég	ama	amaði		ami	amaði
	þú	amar	amaðir		amir	amaðir
	hann, hún, það	amar	amaði		ami	amaði
plural	við	ömum	ömuðum		ömum	ömuðum
	þið	amið	ömuðuð		amið	ömuðuð
	þeir, þær, þau	ama	ömuðu		ami	ömuðu
		imperative boðháttur
singular	þú	ama (þú), amaðu
plural	þið	amið (þið), amiði1

¹ Spoken form, usually not written; in writing, the unappended plural form (optionally followed by the full pronoun) is preferred.

amast – mediopassive voice (miðmynd)

infinitive nafnháttur		að amast
supine sagnbót		amast
present participle lýsingarháttur nútíðar		amandist (rare; see appendix)
		indicative framsöguháttur			subjunctive viðtengingarháttur
		present nútíð	past þátíð		present nútíð	past þátíð
singular	ég	amast	amaðist		amist	amaðist
	þú	amast	amaðist		amist	amaðist
	hann, hún, það	amast	amaðist		amist	amaðist
plural	við	ömumst	ömuðumst		ömumst	ömuðumst
	þið	amist	ömuðust		amist	ömuðust
	þeir, þær, þau	amast	ömuðust		amist	ömuðust
		imperative boðháttur
singular	þú	amast (þú), amastu
plural	þið	amist (þið), amisti1

¹ Spoken form, usually not written; in writing, the unappended plural form (optionally followed by the full pronoun) is preferred.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• ama að (“to be the matter with”)
• amast
• amast við (“to express one's annoyance at someone”)

  Hvað amar að þér?

  What is the trouble with you?

Ilocano

Noun

ama

1. father

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈama/ [ˈa.ma]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Etymology 1

Noun

ama (plural ama-ama)

1. apheretic form of hama

Preposition

ama

1. apheretic form of sama

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Gayo [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *amá-q, from Proto-Austronesian *amax.

Noun

ama (plural ama-ama)

1. father [since 2017]

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Pamona [Term?].

Noun

ama (plural ama-ama)

1. sparks flying into the air [since 2024]

Further reading

• “ama”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Inlaod Itneg

Alternative forms

• amang

Noun

áma

1. father

   Synonym: tata

Interlingua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.ma/

Verb

ama

1. present of amar
2. imperative of amar

Irish

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): [ˈɑmˠə]
• (Connacht, Ulster) IPA^(key): [ˈamˠə]

Etymology 1

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

Noun

ama m (genitive singular ama, nominative plural amaí)

1. yoke
2. (in the plural) hames

Declension

Declension of ama (fourth declension)

bare forms singular plural nominative ama amaí vocative a ama a amaí genitive ama amaí dative ama amaí forms with the definite article singular plural nominative an t-ama na hamaí genitive an ama na n-amaí dative leis an ama don ama leis na hamaí

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

ama m

1. genitive singular of am

Mutation

Mutated forms of ama

radical	eclipsis	with h-prothesis	with t-prothesis
ama	n-ama	hama	not applicable

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

References

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “ama”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla [Irish–English Dictionary], Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.ma/
• Rhymes: -ama
• Hyphenation: à‧ma

Verb

ama

1. inflection of amare:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Japanese

Romanization

ama

1. Rōmaji transcription of あま

Jarai

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *ama-h.

Noun

ama (classifier čô)

1. father

Javanese

Romanization

ama

1. romanization of ꦲꦩ

Kamayurá

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [aˈma]

Noun

ama

1. mother

References

• Meinke Salzer (1976), “Fonologia Provisória da Língua Kamayurá”, in Série Linguística, volume 5, pages 131–170

Kankanaey

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʔama/ [ˈʔaː.mʌ]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

ama

1. father

Kayapa Kallahan

Noun

ama

1. father

Laboya

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *ama-h.

Noun

ama

1. father

References

• Rina, A. Dj.; Kabba, John Lado B. (2011), “ama”, in Kamus Bahasa Lamboya, Kabupaten Sumba Bakat [Dictionary of Lamboya Language, West Sumba Regency], Waikabubak: Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata, Kabupaten Sumba Bakat, page 5
• Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*amax”, in the CLDF dataset from The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–), →DOI

Ladino

Pronunciation

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish اما (ammâ), from Arabic أَمَّا (ʔammā).

Conjunction

ama (Hebrew spelling אמה)

1. but; yet

   Synonyms: ma, pero

   • 19th Century, Sa'adi Besalel a-Levi, chapter 24, in Aron Rodrigue, Sarah Abrevaya Stein, editors, A Jewish Voice from Ottoman Salonica: The Ladino Memoir of Sa'adi Besalel A-Levi‎^[14], Stanford University Press, published 2012, →ISBN, page 236:

     En fin, estos se tornaron en vazio, i pedrieron el koraje, i non fueron mas en dingun modo de fyesta a demandar los bilyetos, ama empesaron a azerme konkorrensya en otros travajos.

     In the end they returned empty-handed and disappointed, and they were no longer in any mood to demand invitations for feasting, yet they started to compete with me in other areas of work.

Alternative forms

• amá

Etymology 2

Inherited from Old Spanish ama (“wetnurse”), from Late Latin amma, q.v.

Noun

ama f (Hebrew spelling אמה)

1. housewife (mistress of the house)
   • 1997, Aki Yerushalayim: revista de las emisiones de Israel en djudeo-espaniol‎^[15], numbers 56-58, page 45:

     […] 'Hagar es buena i resive influensa de su ama, amiga i senyora Sara, ke es buena mujer i madre.

     Hagar is good and is influenced by her mistress, friend and lady Sarah, who is a good woman and mother.

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

ama (Hebrew spelling אמה)

1. third-person singular present indicative of amar

Latin

Etymology 1

From hama, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓́μη (ắmē).

Pronunciation 1

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈa.ma]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈaː.ma]

Noun

ama f (genitive amae); first declension

1. alternative form of hama (“firebucket”)

Declension

First-declension noun.

	singular	plural
nominative	ama	amae
genitive	amae	amārum
dative	amae	amīs
accusative	amam	amās
ablative	amā	amīs
vocative	ama	amae

Pronunciation 2

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈa.maː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈaː.ma]

Noun

amā

1. ablative singular of ama
2. ablative/vocative singular of amās

Etymology 2

From amō.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈa.maː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈaː.ma]

Verb

amā

1. second-person singular present active imperative of amō

References

• “ăma”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “ăma”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette, page 108/3.
• "2. AMA", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• "3. AMA", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “ama” on page 112/1 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
• Niermeyer, Jan Frederik (1976), “ama”, in Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden, Boston: E. J. Brill, page 39/1

Laz

Conjunction

ama

1. Latin spelling of ამა (ama)

Limos Kalinga

Noun

amá

1. father

Lolopo

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʔa³³ma³³]

Noun

ama

1. (Yao'an) mother, mom

Lubuagan Kalinga

Noun

ama

1. father

Maguindanao

Noun

ama

1. father

Maltese

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₃emh₃-der.

Proto-Italic *amāō

Latin amāre

Italian amarebor.

Maltese ama

Borrowed from Italian amare.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaː.ma/
• Rhymes: -aːma

Verb

ama (imperfect jama, past participle amat, verbal noun amar)

1. to love, like

Conjugation

Conjugation of ama (i-type unadapted loan)

positive forms
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	amajt	amajt	ama	amajna	amajtu	amaw
	f			amat
imperfect	m	nama	tama	jama	namaw	tamaw	jamaw
	f			tama
imperative			ama			amaw
negative forms
		singular			plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	amajtx	amajtx	ama	amajniex	amajtux	amawx
	f			amatx
imperfect	m	namax	tamax	jamax	namawx	tamawx	jamawx
	f			tamax
imperative			tamax			tamawx

Related terms

• amabbli

Mansaka

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *ama-h.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [aˈmaʔ]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

ama

1. father

   Wain yang kanmo ama?

   Where is your father?

Māori

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *hama, from Proto-Central Pacific *cama, from Proto-Oceanic *saman, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *saman, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *saman, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *saʀman. Cognates include Hawaiian ama and Tongan hama.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈama/ [ˈɐmɐ]

Noun

ama

1. outrigger (of a canoe)
2. bargeboard support

References

• John C. Moorfield (2011), “ama”, in Te Aka: Māori–English, English–Māori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, →ISBN

Maria

Noun

ama

1. mother

References

• Andrew Pawley et al., "The Trans New Guinea family", in The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide (2018, →ISBN)

Matal

Conjunction

ama

1. but

   Dza uwana asal matəf gəl aŋha, adàziŋ ala, ama dza uwana az gəl aŋha ala kà gi, adàɓəl gəl aŋha. (Mata 16:25)

   For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me will find it. (Matthew 16:25)

Moni

Noun

ama

1. breast

References

• Andrew Pawley et al., "The Trans New Guinea family", in The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide (2018, →ISBN)

Nias

Noun

ama (mutated form nama)

1. father

   amagu ― my father

   amada ― our (and also your) father

North Asmat

Noun

ama

1. (Weyo) bowstring

References

• transnewguinea.org, citing Voorhoeve, C. L. 1980. The Asmat Languages of Irian Jaya. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Nyimang

Noun

ámá

1. human beings, people
2. members of the Nyimang people who speak the Ama dialect

References

• Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere, issues 61-64, page 103: From the accompanying notes, I have these self-names: Nyimang ama-du wada 'ama (people)-of language' and [...]
• Claude Rilly, Alex de Voogt, The Meroitic Language and Writing System (2012), page 80 (in notes)

Old Galician-Portuguese

Etymology

Inherited from Late Latin amma, q.v.

Noun

ama f (plural amas)

1. wetnurse
2. housewife (mistress of the house)

Descendants

• Galician: ama
• Portuguese: ama

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “ama”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega

Old Norse

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *ammōną (“to irritate, bother”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃emh₃- (“to insist, urge”).

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: am‧a

Verb

ama

1. to bother
2. to wound

Conjugation

Conjugation of ama — active (weak class 2)

infinitive	ama
present participle	amandi
past participle	amaðr
	indicative			subjunctive
	present	past		present	past
1st person singular	ama	amaða		ama	amaða
2nd person singular	amar	amaðir		amir	amaðir
3rd person singular	amar	amaði		ami	amaði
1st person plural	ǫmum	ǫmuðum		amim	amaðim
2nd person plural	amið	ǫmuðuð		amið	amaðið
3rd person plural	ama	ǫmuðu		ami	amaði
imperative	present
2nd person singular	ama
1st person plural	ǫmum
2nd person plural	amið

Conjugation of ama — mediopassive (weak class 2)

infinitive	amask
present participle	amandisk
past participle	amazk
	indicative			subjunctive
	present	past		present	past
1st person singular	ǫmumk	ǫmuðumk		ǫmumk	ǫmuðumk
2nd person singular	amask	amaðisk		amisk	amaðisk
3rd person singular	amask	amaðisk		amisk	amaðisk
1st person plural	ǫmumsk	ǫmuðumsk		amimsk	amaðimsk
2nd person plural	amizk	ǫmuðuzk		amizk	amaðizk
3rd person plural	amask	ǫmuðusk		amisk	amaðisk
imperative	present
2nd person singular	amask
1st person plural	ǫmumsk
2nd person plural	amizk

Noun

ama f (genitive ǫmu, plural ǫmur)

1. a large amount, a ton

Further reading

• Zoëga, Geir T. (1910), “ama”, in A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press; also available at the Internet Archive

Old Spanish

Etymology

Inherited from Late Latin amma.

Noun

ama f (plural amas)

1. wetnurse

Descendants

• Ladino: ama, אמה
• Spanish: ama

References

• Ralph Steele Boggs et al. (1946), “ama”, in Tentative Dictionary of Medieval Spanish, volume I, Chapel Hill, page 32

Ometepec Nahuatl

Noun

ama

1. paper

Pa

Noun

ama

1. mother

References

• Andrew Pawley et al., "The Trans New Guinea family", in The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide (2018, →ISBN)

Paraguayan Guarani

Etymology

Cognate with Old Tupi amana.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /amã/, [ãˈmã]
• Rhymes: -ã
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Noun

ama

1. rain

References

• Canese, Natalia Krivoshein de; Alcaraz, Feliciano Acosta (2016), “ama”, in Ñe’ẽryru [Dictionary] (overall work in Spanish), Asunción: Instituto Superior de Lenguas, →ISBN, page 13, columns 1–2

Portuguese

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈɐ̃.mɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈɐ̃.mɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈɐ.ma/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈɐ.mɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈɐ.mɐ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈa.mɐ/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: (Portugal) -ɐmɐ, (Brazil) -ɐ̃mɐ
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Etymology 1

From Old Galician-Portuguese ama, from Late Latin amma, q.v.

Noun

ama f (plural amas)

1. female nurse

   Synonym: enfermeira

2. female housekeeper

   Synonym: governanta

3. governess

   Synonym: governanta

Derived terms

• ama de leite
• ama-seca

Descendants

• → Gujarati: અમ્મા (ammā)
• → Marathi: अमा (amā)
• → Tamil: ஆமா (āmā)

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

ama

1. inflection of amar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

• “ama”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “ama”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Quechua

Adverb

ama

1. (imperative) do not, used with -chu

   Ama mikhuychu!

   Don't eat!

Derived terms

• ama ñiy

See also

• mana

Noun

ama

1. old ruin

Declension

Declension of ama

	singular	plural
nominative	ama	amakuna
accusative	amata	amakunata
dative	amaman	amakunaman
genitive	amap	amakunap
locative	amapi	amakunapi
terminative	amakama	amakunakama
ablative	amamanta	amakunamanta
instrumental	amawan	amakunawan
comitative	amantin	amakunantin
abessive	amannaq	amakunannaq
comparative	amahina	amakunahina
causative	amarayku	amakunarayku
benefactive	amapaq	amakunapaq
associative	amapura	amakunapura
distributive	amanka	amakunanka
exclusive	amalla	amakunalla

Possessive forms of ama

ñuqap - first-person singular ñuqap (my) singular plural nominative amay amaykuna accusative amayta amaykunata dative amayman amaykunaman genitive amaypa amaykunap locative amaypi amaykunapi terminative amaykama amaykunakama ablative amaymanta amaykunamanta instrumental amaywan amaykunawan comitative amaynintin amaykunantin abessive amayninnaq amaykunannaq comparative amayhina amaykunahina causative amayrayku amaykunarayku benefactive amaypaq amaykunapaq associative amaypura amaykunapura distributive amayninka amaykunanka exclusive amaylla amaykunalla qampa - second-person singular qampa (your) singular plural nominative amayki amaykikuna accusative amaykita amaykikunata dative amaykiman amaykikunaman genitive amaykipa amaykikunap locative amaykipi amaykikunapi terminative amaykikama amaykikunakama ablative amaykimanta amaykikunamanta instrumental amaykiwan amaykikunawan comitative amaykintin amaykikunantin abessive amaykinnaq amaykikunannaq comparative amaykihina amaykikunahina causative amaykirayku amaykikunarayku benefactive amaykipaq amaykikunapaq associative amaykipura amaykikunapura distributive amaykinka amaykikunanka exclusive amaykilla amaykikunalla paypa - third-person singular paypa (his/her/its) singular plural nominative aman amankuna accusative amanta amankunata dative amanman amankunaman genitive amanpa amankunap locative amanpi amankunapi terminative amankama amankunakama ablative amanmanta amankunamanta instrumental amanwan amankunawan comitative amanintin amankunantin abessive amanninnaq amankunannaq comparative amanhina amankunahina causative amanrayku amankunarayku benefactive amanpaq amankunapaq associative amanpura amankunapura distributive amaninka amankunanka exclusive amanlla amankunalla ñuqanchikpa - first-person inclusive plural ñuqanchikpa (our(incl)) singular plural nominative amanchik amanchikkuna accusative amanchikta amanchikkunata dative amanchikman amanchikkunaman genitive amanchikpa amanchikkunap locative amanchikpi amanchikkunapi terminative amanchikkama amanchikkunakama ablative amanchikmanta amanchikkunamanta instrumental amanchikwan amanchikkunawan comitative amanchiknintin amanchikkunantin abessive amanchikninnaq amanchikkunannaq comparative amanchikhina amanchikkunahina causative amanchikrayku amanchikkunarayku benefactive amanchikpaq amanchikkunapaq associative amanchikpura amanchikkunapura distributive amanchikninka amanchikkunanka exclusive amanchiklla amanchikkunalla ñuqaykup - first-person exclusive plural ñuqaykup (our(excl)) singular plural nominative amayku amaykukuna accusative amaykuta amaykukunata dative amaykuman amaykukunaman genitive amaykupa amaykukunap locative amaykupi amaykukunapi terminative amaykukama amaykukunakama ablative amaykumanta amaykukunamanta instrumental amaykuwan amaykukunawan comitative amaykuntin amaykukunantin abessive amaykunnaq amaykukunannaq comparative amaykuhina amaykukunahina causative amaykurayku amaykukunarayku benefactive amaykupaq amaykukunapaq associative amaykupura amaykukunapura distributive amaykunka amaykukunanka exclusive amaykulla amaykukunalla qamkunap - second-person plural qamkunap (your(pl)) singular plural nominative amaykichik amaykichikkuna accusative amaykichikta amaykichikkunata dative amaykichikman amaykichikkunaman genitive amaykichikpa amaykichikkunap locative amaykichikpi amaykichikkunapi terminative amaykichikkama amaykichikkunakama ablative amaykichikmanta amaykichikkunamanta instrumental amaykichikwan amaykichikkunawan comitative amaykichiknintin amaykichikkunantin abessive amaykichikninnaq amaykichikkunannaq comparative amaykichikhina amaykichikkunahina causative amaykichikrayku amaykichikkunarayku benefactive amaykichikpaq amaykichikkunapaq associative amaykichikpura amaykichikkunapura distributive amaykichikninka amaykichikkunanka exclusive amaykichiklla amaykichikkunalla paykunap - third-person plural paykunap (their) singular plural nominative amanku amankukuna accusative amankuta amankukunata dative amankuman amankukunaman genitive amankupa amankukunap locative amankupi amankukunapi terminative amankukama amankukunakama ablative amankumanta amankukunamanta instrumental amankuwan amankukunawan comitative amankuntin amankukunantin abessive amankunnaq amankukunannaq comparative amankuhina amankukunahina causative amankurayku amankukunarayku benefactive amankupaq amankukunapaq associative amankupura amankukunapura distributive amankunka amankukunanka exclusive amankulla amankukunalla

Rade

Etymology

From Proto-Chamic *ʔama, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *t-ama, from Proto-Austronesian *t-ama.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /amaa/, [ʔəmaa]

Noun

ama

1. a father

Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *hama. Cognates include Tongan hama and Hawaiian ama.

Noun

ama

1. outrigger

Rukai

Etymology

From Proto-Rukai *ama, from Proto-Austronesian *amax.

Noun

ama

1. father
2. father's brother

Sakizaya

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *amax.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.ˈma/, [a.ˈma]

Noun

ama

1. father

Salar

Picture dictionary

ama

nina

baba

nina

baba

bo

​

acü

ayi

dada

agu

​

ama

ica

aba

ata

​

yengü

aze

aze xarsı

siñni

​

gaga

zhínǚ

zhierzi

samagu

ini

so

kiyne

qaynı aze

baca

güy

xarsı

qaynı gaga

exingi

Click on labels in the image.

Etymology

Borrowed from Tibetan ཨ་མ (a ma).

Pronunciation

• (Xunhua, Qinghai) IPA^(key): /ɑmɑ/
• (Ili, Xinjiang) IPA^(key): /ɑːmɑ/

Noun

ama

1. mother

   Synonym: ica

   Govda aba üni biki, öyde ama üni biki.

   Father's voice is loud at door, mother's voice is loud at home.

Derived terms

• ama-bala (“mother and child”)

References

• Tenishev, Edhem (1976), “ama”, in Stroj salárskovo jazyká [Grammar of Salar], Moscow: Nauka, page 287
• 林莲云 [Lin Lianyun] (1992), “ama”, in 撒拉汉汉撒拉词汇 [Salar-Chinese, Chinese-Salar Vocabulary], 成都 [Chéngdū]: 四川民族出版社, →ISBN, page 8
• Yakup, Abdurishid (2002), “aːma”, in An Ili Salar Vocabulary: Introduction and a Provisional Salar-English Lexicon‎^[16], Tokyo: University of Tokyo, →ISBN, page 41
• 阿伊草·张进锋 [Salar: Ayso Cañ Cinfen] (2008), 乌璐别格 [Salar: Ulubeğ], 鄭初陽 [Salar: Çuyañ Yebey oğlı Ceñ], editors, 撒拉尔谚语 [Salar: Salar İbret Sözler, Salar Proverbs]‎^[17], China Salar Youth League, page 93

Scottish Gaelic

Noun

ama m

1. genitive singular of àm

Mutation

Mutation of ama

radical	eclipsis	with h-prothesis	with t-prothesis
ama	n-ama	h-ama	t-ama

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

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish اما (ammâ), in turn from Arabic أَمَّا (ʔammā).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /âma/
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Conjunction

ȁma (Cyrillic spelling а̏ма)

1. (regional) but [from 18th c.]

   Synonym: ali

Interjection

ama (Cyrillic spelling ама)

1. (regional) Used to express impatience.; ugh, blah

Further reading

• “ama”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026
• “ama”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026

Sicilian

Verb

ama

1. inflection of amari:
   1. third-person singular present active indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

Sidamo

Etymology

From Proto-Cushitic. Cognates include Burji ama and Hadiyya ama.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈama/
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Noun

ama f (plural amuwa f)

1. mother

Declension

Declension of ama (feminine)

	unmodified	modified
predicative	ama
nominative	ama	ama
genitive	amate*)	ama*)
dative	amate	amara
accusative	ama*)
ablative	amatenni	amanni

^*) Stressed on the final vowel.

References

• Kazuhiro Kawachi (2007), A grammar of Sidaama (Sidamo), a Cushitic language of Ethiopia, page 82
• Gizaw Shimelis, editor (2007), “ama”, in Sidaama-Amharic-English dictionary, Addis Ababa: Sidama Information and Culture department

Slovincian

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Germanic *ammǭ

Proto-West Germanic *ammā

Old High German amma

Middle High German amme

German Ammebor.

Slovincian ama

Borrowed from German Amme.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.ma/
• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

ama f

1. wet nurse (woman hired to suckle another woman's child)

Further reading

• Lorentz, Friedrich (1908), “ą̃mă”, in Slovinzisches Wörterbuch‎^[18] (in German), volume 1, Saint Petersburg: ОРЯС ИАН, page 9

Somali

Alternative forms

• amba, amma

Etymology

Reinisch compares Arabic أَم (ʔam).

Conjunction

ama

1. or

References

• Reinisch, Leo (1902), Die Somali-Sprache (in German), volume 2, Wien, Austria, page 27

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈama/ [ˈa.ma]

• Audio (Colombia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Etymology 1

Inherited from Old Spanish ama (“wetnurse”), from Late Latin amma, q.v.

Noun

ama f (plural amas, masculine amo, masculine plural amos)

1. lady of the house
2. proprietress
3. landlady
4. housekeeper, head maid
5. nursemaid, nanny
6. wetnurse
7. mistress

Usage notes

• Before feminine nouns beginning with stressed /ˈa/ like ama, the singular definite article takes the form of el (otherwise reserved for masculine nouns) instead of the usual la: el ama. This includes the contracted forms al and del (instead of a la and de la, respectively): al ama, del ama.

This also applies to the indefinite article, which takes the form of un, which is otherwise used with masculine nouns (although the standard feminine form una also occurs): un ama or una ama. The same is true with determiners algún/alguna and ningún/ninguna, as well as for numerals ending with 1 (e.g., veintiún/veintiuna).

However, if another word intervenes between the article and the noun, the usual feminine singular articles and determiners (la, una etc.) are used: la mejor ama, una buena ama.

• In these cases, el and un are not masculine but feminine, deriving from Latin illa and una, respectively, even though they are identical in form to the corresponding masculine singular articles. Thus, they are allomorphs of the feminine singular articles la and una.
• The use of these allomorphs does not change the gender agreement of the adjectives modifying the feminine noun: el ama única, un(a) ama buena.
• In the plural, the usual feminine plural articles and determiners (las, unas, etc.) are always used.

Derived terms

• ama de brazos
• ama de casa
• ama de cría
• ama de crianza
• ama de gobierno
• ama de leche
• ama de llaves

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

ama

1. inflection of amar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

• “amo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Sumerian

Romanization

ama

1. romanization of 𒂼 (ama)

Swahili

Pronunciation

• (Unguja standard) IPA^(key): /ˈɑ.mɑ/

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔim-

Proto-Semitic *ʔimm-

Arabic أَم (ʔam)bor.

Swahili ama

Borrowed from Arabic أَم (ʔam).

Conjunction

ama

1. or

   Synonym: au

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Arabic أَ (ʔa)

Arabic مَا (mā)

Arabic أَمَا (ʔamā)bor.

Swahili ama

Borrowed from Arabic أَمَا (ʔamā).

Interjection

ama

1. Used to express surprise or shock: oh! is that so?

   Synonym: ala

Derived terms

• ama kweli

Etymology 3

Verb

-ama (infinitive kuama)

1. (rare) (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) to add to
2. (rare) (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) to lie on, to rest on

Conjugation

Conjugation of -ama
Positive present -naama Subjunctive -ame Negative -ami Imperative singular ama
Infinitives
Positive kuama Negative kutoama
Imperatives
Singular ama Plural ameni
Tensed forms
Habitual huama Positive past positive subject concord + -liama Negative past negative subject concord + -kuama
Positive present (positive subject concord + -naama) Singular Plural 1st person ninaama/naama tunaama 2nd person unaama mnaama 3rd person m-wa(I/II) anaama wanaama other classes positive subject concord + -naama
Negative present (negative subject concord + -ami) Singular Plural 1st person siami hatuami 2nd person huami hamwami 3rd person m-wa(I/II) haami hawaami other classes negative subject concord + -ami
Positive future positive subject concord + -taama Negative future negative subject concord + -taama
Positive subjunctive (positive subject concord + -ame) Singular Plural 1st person niame tuame 2nd person uame mwame 3rd person m-wa(I/II) aame waame other classes positive subject concord + -ame
Negative subjunctive positive subject concord + -siame Positive present conditional positive subject concord + -ngeama Negative present conditional positive subject concord + -singeama Positive past conditional positive subject concord + -ngaliama Negative past conditional positive subject concord + -singaliama
Gnomic (positive subject concord + -aama) Singular Plural 1st person naama twaama 2nd person waama mwaama 3rd person m-wa(I/II) aama waama m-mi(III/IV) waama yaama ji-ma(V/VI) laama yaama ki-vi(VII/VIII) chaama vyaama n(IX/X) yaama zaama u(XI) waama see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) kwaama pa(XVI) paama mu(XVIII) mwaama
Perfect positive subject concord + -meama "Already" positive subject concord + -meshaama "Not yet" negative subject concord + -jaama "If/When" positive subject concord + -kiama "If not" positive subject concord + -sipoama Consecutive kaama / positive subject concord + -kaama Consecutive subjunctive positive subject concord + -kaame
Object concord (indicative positive) Singular Plural 1st person -niama -tuama 2nd person -kuama -waama/-kuameni/-waameni 3rd person m-wa(I/II) -mwama -waama m-mi(III/IV) -uama -iama ji-ma(V/VI) -liama -yaama ki-vi(VII/VIII) -kiama -viama n(IX/X) -iama -ziama u(XI) -uama see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -kuama pa(XVI) -paama mu(XVIII) -muama Reflexive -jiama
Relative forms General positive (positive subject concord + (object concord) + -ama- + relative marker) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -amaye -amao m-mi(III/IV) -amao -amayo ji-ma(V/VI) -amalo -amayo ki-vi(VII/VIII) -amacho -amavyo n(IX/X) -amayo -amazo u(XI) -amao see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -amako pa(XVI) -amapo mu(XVIII) -amamo Other forms (subject concord + tense marker + relative marker + (object concord) + -ama) Singular Plural m-wa(I/II) -yeama -oama m-mi(III/IV) -oama -yoama ji-ma(V/VI) -loama -yoama ki-vi(VII/VIII) -choama -vyoama n(IX/X) -yoama -zoama u(XI) -oama see n(X) or ma(VI) class ku(XV/XVII) -koama pa(XVI) -poama mu(XVIII) -moama
Some forms not commonly seen in modern Standard Swahili are absent from the table. See Appendix:Swahili verbs for more information.

Derived terms

• Verbal derivations:
  • Passive: -amwa

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *amax. Compare Central Bikol ama, Cebuano ama, Fijian tama, Higaonon amay, Hiligaynon amay, Ibanag yama, Maranao ama', Malay rama, Saaroa ama'a, Taivoan ama', and Yami ama.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog)
  • IPA^(key): /ʔaˈma/ [ʔɐˈma] (“father; senior”, noun)
    • Rhymes: -a
  • IPA^(key): /ʔaˈmaʔ/ [ʔɐˈmaʔ] (“grandfather”, noun)
    • Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

amá (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜋ)

1. (formal) father

   Synonyms: tatay, papa, itay, (idiomatic) haligi ng tahanan, (slang) erpat, (gay slang) pudra, (slang) adidas, (obsolete) bapa

2. (figurative) founder; organizer

   Synonym: tagapagtatag

3. senior; older
4. sire

Derived terms

• Ama Namin
• ama-amahan
• amama
• Amansinaya
• amang
• amang kahoy
• amang-kasal
• amang-kumpil
• amang-panguman
• amang-tanda
• Araw ng mga Ama
• Diyos Ama
• inaama
• mag-aama
• mag-ama
• mag-ama-amahan
• mag-iinaama
• mag-inaama
• makaama
• pagkaama
• pinag-amahan
• ulila sa ama
• uten ng ama mo

Related terms

• A
• Ama

See also

• Pan

Noun

amâ (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜋ)

1. (dialectal, Quezon) grandfather

   Synonyms: lolo, ingkong, (Quezon) amama

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *amma-der.?

Late Latin amma

Old Spanish ama

Spanish amabor.

Tagalog ama

Borrowed from Spanish ama, from Old Spanish ama, from Late Latin amma, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *amma-.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈʔama/ [ˈʔaː.mɐ]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

ama (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜋ)

1. mistress; housewife

   Synonyms: maybahay, madre de pamilya, ama de-kasa

2. governess; caretaker of children

   Synonyms: yaya, katiwala, tagapag-alaga, katulong, sisiwa

Related terms

• ama de-kasa
• ama de-liyabe
• amo

Etymology 3

From Chinese [Term?].

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈʔama/ [ˈʔaː.mɐ]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Adverb

ama (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜋ)

1. rarely; seldom

   Synonyms: bihira, madalang, manaka-naka

Etymology 4

Borrowed from Hokkien 阿媽 / 阿妈 (a-má, “paternal grandmother”). See also Hokkien 俺媽 / 俺妈 (án-má), Portuguese Templo de A-Má.

Alternative forms

• ahma, amma, amah

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ʔaˈma/ [ʔɐˈma]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: a‧ma

Noun

amá (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜋ) (Chinese Filipino, colloquial)

1. paternal grandmother; paternal grandma

   Synonym: lola

   Coordinate term: angkong

   • 2006, Christine S. Bellen, “Trese”, in Carla M. Pacis, Eugene Y. Evasco, editors, Bagets: an anthology of Filipino young adult fiction‎^[19], UP Press, page 11:

     Mestisang Tsina naman si Nanay. Negosyante sina Ama at Angkong ko. Purong Tsino si Angkong. Lumikas mula sa Macao ang pamilya nila at dito sa Pilipinas nagtayo ng isang maliit na tindahan hanggang sa lumago ito at naging isang grocery.

     Mom is a Chinese mestiza. My grandmother and grandfather are businesspeople. Grandpa is a pure Chinese. Their family evacuated from Macau and it was here in the Philippines where they started a small store until it flourished and became a grocery.

2. term of address for one's paternal grandmother
   • 2006, Christine S. Bellen, “Trese”, in Carla M. Pacis, Eugene Y. Evasco, editors, Bagets: an anthology of Filipino young adult fiction‎^[20], UP Press, page 11:

     Sa Pilipinas na napangasawa ni Angkong si Ama. Pilipina ang nanay ni Ama pero sila ang mas mahigpit sa mga pamahiing Tsino.

     It was in the Philippines already where Grandpa married Grandma. Grandma's mother is a Filipina but they are the ones who are stricter in Chinese superstitions.

Further reading

• “ama”, in KWF Diksiyonaryo ng Wikang Filipino, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2025
• “ama”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018
• Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*amax”, in the CLDF dataset from The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–), →DOI
• Manuel, E. Arsenio (1971), A Lexicographic Study of Tayabas Tagalog of Quezon Province, Quezon City: Diliman Review, page 30
• Cuadrado Muñiz, Adolfo (1972), Hispanismos en el tagalo: diccionario de vocablos de origen español vigentes en esta lengua filipina, Madrid: Oficina de Educación Iberoamericana, page 28

Anagrams

• aam

Tauya

Noun

ama

1. liver

References

• Lorna MacDonald (2013), A Dictionary of Tauya, Berlin: De Gruyter, →ISBN, page 103

Thao

Noun

ama

1. father
2. paternal uncle

Torres Strait Creole

Etymology

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

Noun

ama

1. mother
2. maternal aunt; one's mother's sister
3. mother-in-law; one's spouse's mother

Turkish

Etymology 1

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish اما (ammâ), from Arabic أَمَّا (ʔammā). Doublet of amma.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈa.ma/, [ˈɑ.mɑ]
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Conjunction

ama

1. but; however

   Synonyms: ancak, amma, lakin, velakin

Descendants

• → Ladino: ama

Etymology 2

From am (“cunt, pussy”) +‎ -a (dative suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈma/, [ɑˈmɑ]
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Noun

ama

1. dative singular of am

See also

• amma
• âmâ

Further reading

• “ama”, in Turkish dictionaries, Türk Dil Kurumu
• Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–), “ama”, in Nişanyan Sözlük
• Ayverdi, İlhan (2010), “ama”, in Misalli Büyük Türkçe Sözlük, a reviewed and expanded single-volume edition, Istanbul: Kubbealtı Neşriyatı

Tzotzil

Pronunciation

• (Zinacantán) IPA^(key): /ˈʔämä/

Noun

ama

1. flute

References

• “ˀama” in Laughlin, Robert M. (1975) The Great Tzotzil Dictionary of San Lorenzo Zinacantán. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Uri

Noun

ama

1. water

References

• Rachel Gray, Margaret Potter, Thom Retsema, Mungkip: an endangered language, SIL Electronic Survey Reports 35 (2009), page 25

Wahgi

Noun

ama

1. mother

References

• Andrew Pawley et al., "The Trans New Guinea family", in The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide (2018, →ISBN)

Wayuu

Noun

ama

1. horse

Yale

Noun

ama

1. dog

Yami

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *ama-h.

Noun

ama

1. father

Zou

Etymology

From a (third-person singular verbal concord) +‎ mà (“himself, herself”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʔʌ̄.mʌ̀]
• Hyphenation: a‧ma

Pronoun

amà

1. he, she

See also

Zou personal pronouns

	singular			plural
	I	II	III	I incl.	I excl.	II	III
subject/object	kéi	náng	amà	éi	kóu kóuté	nóu nóuté	amóu amàté
indirect object	éi	néi
verbal concord	ka	na	a	i	ka	na	a

References

• Philip Thangliènmâng (2010), Minimal dictionary and Self-tutor Functional Grammar in Zo-English-Hindi, New Delhi: Zoculsin, →ISBN, page 131
• Lukram Himmat Singh (2013), A Descriptive Grammar of Zou (PhD thesis), Canchipur: Manipur University, page 65