મા

Gujarati

Etymology

Inherited from Old Gujarati मा (mā), from Sanskrit मातृ (mātṛ, “mother”), from Proto-Indo-Aryan *máHtā, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *máHtā, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr.

Noun

મા • (mā) f

1. mother
2. a suffix for goddesses

   અંબા મા ― ambā mā ― Goddess Amba

Usage notes

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

Alternative forms

• ડ (ḍa) forms: માડી f (māḍī)