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

Related terms

(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]‎^[1], 우즈베키스탄 타슈켄트 [ujeubekiseutan tasyukenteu]:

     그래 우리 마마 그 소냐를 욕했지.

     Geurae uri mama geu sonya-reul yokhaetji.

     So my mum cursed Sonya.