마마

Korean

Pronunciation
  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ˈma̠(ː)ma̠]
  • Phonetic hangul: [마(ː)마]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
Romanizations
Revised Romanization?mama
Revised Romanization (translit.)?mama
McCune–Reischauer?mama
Yale Romanization?māma

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 媽媽 (“mum”)

Noun

마마 • (mama) (hanja 媽媽)

  1. (honorific) Your Majesty, His Majesty, Her Majesty
  2. (honorific) Madame for a concubine of an ancient high-ranking official
  3. (honorific) goddess who is allegedly responsible for smallpox
  4. smallpox, pockmark

(Majesty):

  • 상감마마 (上監媽媽, sanggammama, “king”)
  • 중전마마 (中殿媽媽, jungjeonmama, “queen”)
  • 동궁마마 (東宮媽媽, donggungmama, “crowned prince”)

(smallpox):

  • 별성마마 (別星媽媽, byeolseongmama, “smallpox”), originally the honorific for the goddess who is allegedly responsible for smallpox
  • 손님마마 (-媽媽, sonnimmama, “smallpox”), literally "guest the honorable"
  • 역신마마 (疫神媽媽, yeoksinmama, “crowned prince”), originally the honorific for the goddess who is allegedly responsible for smallpox

Etymology 2

Appears to be a loanword from Russian мама (mama). Compare 빠빠 (ppappa).

Noun

마마 • (mama)

  1. (Russia) mother, mum
    • 2015 February 12, 강 발렌지나 [gang ballenjina], “남편을 빌려준 여인 [nampyeoneul billyeojun yeoin]”, in 한국구비문학대계 [han'gukgubimunhakdaegye]‎, 우즈베키스탄 타슈켄트 [ujeubekiseutan tasyukenteu]:
      그래 우리 마마 그 소냐를 욕했지.
      Geurae uri mama geu sonya-reul yokhaetji.
      So my mum cursed Sonya.
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