M
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TranslingualEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From the Etruscan letter 𐌌 (m, “em”), from the Ancient Greek letter Μ (M, “my”), derived from the Phoenician letter 𐤌 (m, “mem”), from the Egyptian hieroglyph 𓈖.
Alternative formsEdit
- ꟿ (in ancient inscriptions)
LetterEdit
M (lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.
See alsoEdit
- (Latin script): Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Sſs Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
- (Variations of letter M): Ḿḿ Ṁṁ Ṃṃ ᵯ ᶆ Ɱɱ ᴍ Mm
Etymology 2Edit
An alteration of ⋈, from ∞, an alteration of ↀ, an alteration of Ⓧ, from encircling X (the roman numeral for ten) to indicate the hundredth ten.
Alternative formsEdit
NumeralEdit
M (upper case Roman numeral, lower case m)
- (Roman numerals) Thousand (1000)
- The thousandth (1,000th).
Etymology 3Edit
SymbolEdit
M
- Abbreviation of mega-.
- (astronomy) Abbreviation of Messier, used in Messier numbers.
- (biochemistry) Abbreviation of methionine, as established by IUPAC.
- (chemistry) Abbreviation of molar (one mole of substance per litre of solvent).
- (mathematical analysis) A generic manifold.
- (group theory) monster group
- (music) major
- (linguistics) mid tone
- (astronomy) mass of a reference body as a unit of measure: M☉ solar mass, M🜨 terrestrial mass, MJ or M♃ jovian mass, ML or M☾ lunar mass
- (usually clothing) medium (the manufactured size)
Usage notesEdit
Because of the potential for confusion, the abbreviation for unit "molar" is usually written in italics (M) or in small caps (ᴍ). M for reference mass is usually written in italics.
GalleryEdit
- Letter styles
-
Uppercase and lowercase versions of M, in normal and italic type
-
Uppercase and lowercase M in Fraktur
See alsoEdit
Other representations of M:
EnglishEdit
Etymology 1Edit
PronunciationEdit
Audio (UK) (file)
- Rhymes: -ɛm
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m, plural Ms or M's)
- The thirteenth letter of the English alphabet, called em and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) letter; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z
Etymology 2Edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
NumberEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The ordinal number thirteenth, derived from this letter of the English alphabet, called em and written in the Latin script.
Etymology 3Edit
Abbreviation.
NounEdit
M (countable and uncountable, plural Ms)
- Initialism of mother.
- Initialism of male.
- Initialism of men. (sign on toilet door)
- Coordinate term: W
- 2001, Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections
- From the Kierkegaard Room he lopingly careened through a red-carpeted hallway that had previously vouchsafed him a comfort station but this morning seemed all business, no M or W in sight, just salons and boutiques and the Ingmar Bergman Cinema.
- Initialism of Monday.
- Abbreviation of nautical mile.
- Initialism of million.
- (entomology) Initialism of media.
- (usually clothing, singular only) Initialism of medium (the manufactured size or an item of that size).
- (US, film) A film with the content rating M.
- (slang) Initialism of morphine.
- 1952, Woman's Home Companion (volume 79, page 141)
- [Doctors] always carry narcotic prescription blanks and some M with them. M is morphine.
- 1956, Jess Stearn, Sisters of the Night: The Startling Story of Prostitution in New York Today, New York: Julian Messner, Inc., page 59:
- “Anyway, when he came out of Patsy's room, I grabbed him by the arm and said, ‘Gee whiz, doc, haven't you got a couple of pills for me—even demerol?’ ” / Willie broke off to explain. “That's a synthetic. We call them demmies. If you can't buy H or M, why, demmies will do the trick.”
- 1957, Jack Kerouac, On the Road, Viking Press, →OCLC:
- That night Marylou took everything in the books; she took tea, goofballs, benny, liquor, and even asked Old Bull for a shot of M, which of course he didn’t give her; he did give her a martini.
- 2009, Larry Harrison, Glimpses of a Floating World (page 142)
- 'You were going to get me some M,' she whispered in his ear. […] His friend uses morphine, too.
- 1952, Woman's Home Companion (volume 79, page 141)
- (cricket, in batting figures) the number of minutes a player spent at the crease
- (cricket, in bowling figures) the number of maiden overs bowled
- (India, Islam, Internet slang) Initialism of Muslim.
Usage notesEdit
The sense "Muslim" is mostly used by Hindutva netizens primarily towards Islamist supporters and Muslim militants.
Coordinate termsEdit
- (gender): F, X
- (Indian politics, online slang): H (used by Indian Muslim netizens directed towards Hindus, especially Hindu nationalists)
NounEdit
- Monsieur
- 1928 May, Paul Morand, “Paris Letter”, in The Dial, volume LXXXIV, number 6, published June 1928, page 508:
- I also advise reading the Merlin of M Jean Prévost, published by the N. R. F., a swift audacious picture of post-war love, treated with the grace of a Crébillon or of a Restif de la Bretonne. I could not recommend too highly the Petite Histoire des Juifs which MM Jean and Jérôme Tharaud have just published with Plon.
Usage notesEdit
The current standard form in French is M., with MM. as the plural.
Alternative formsEdit
NounEdit
M
- (stenoscript) Abbreviation of month.
Proper nounEdit
M
- (Michigan, roadway) Michigan.
AdjectiveEdit
M (not comparable)
AfarEdit
LetterEdit
M
- The seventeenth letter in the Afar alphabet.
See alsoEdit
AfrikaansEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Afrikaans alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) letter; Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz
NounEdit
AzerbaijaniEdit
LetterEdit
M upper case (lower case m)
- The nineteenth letter of the Azerbaijani alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
BasqueEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Basque alphabet, called eme and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
Central FranconianEdit
EtymologyEdit
- /m/ is from West Germanic *m.
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M
- A letter in the German-based alphabet of Central Franconian.
- A letter in the Dutch-based alphabet of Central Franconian.
Usage notesEdit
- In the German-based spelling, m is doubled after short vowels except in certain function words and when the letter is followed by another consonant within the word stem.
- In the Dutch-based spelling, m is doubled after short vowels if the syllable were otherwise open.
ChineseEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From English menstruation or menstrual cycle.
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
M
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, colloquial) menstruation
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, colloquial) menstrual cycle
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, colloquial) menses; menstrual blood
SynonymsEdit
Variety | Location | Words |
---|---|---|
Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 月經, 月信, 月事 | |
Mandarin | Beijing | 月經, 例假 |
Taiwan | 月經, 月事, 好朋友, 大姨媽 | |
Yantai (Muping) | 經脈兒 | |
Jinan | 月經, 例假 | |
Wanrong | 月經, 身上 | |
Xining | 例假 | |
Wuhan | 好事 | |
Singapore | 月經, 大姨媽 | |
Dagudi (Maliba) | 月經, 姊妹 | |
Reshuitang (Longling) | 大姨媽 | |
Mae Salong (Lancang) | 月經, 大姨媽 | |
Mae Sai (Tengchong) | 月經 | |
Cantonese | Guangzhou | 大姨媽, 姑婆, 例假 |
Hong Kong | 月經, 大姨媽, M | |
Gan | Lichuan | 身上 |
Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 月期 |
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 月期 | |
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 月期 | |
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 月期 | |
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 月期 | |
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 月期 | |
Jin | Taiyuan | 月經 |
Min Nan | Xiamen | 月經 |
Quanzhou | 月經 | |
Zhangzhou | 月經 | |
Kaohsiung | 月經 | |
Yilan | 月經 | |
Changhua (Lukang) | 月經 | |
Taichung | 月事 | |
Taichung (Wuqi) | 月經 | |
Tainan | mè-sù, 月經 | |
Taitung | 月經 | |
Hsinchu | 月經 | |
Penghu (Magong) | 月經 | |
Manila (Hokkien) | 月經 | |
Jieyang | 老馬 | |
Wu | Shanghai | 月經, 經水 dated, 老朋友, 老鬼三, 大姨媽 |
Ningbo | 大尿, 月家 | |
Wenzhou | 身上來 |
Derived termsEdit
VerbEdit
M
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, colloquial) to menstruate; to have a period
Etymology 2Edit
PronunciationEdit
VerbEdit
M
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, university slang) to steal; to take without asking
Etymology 3Edit
From English M, meg (“megabyte”).
Alternative formsEdit
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
M
Related termsEdit
- G (“gigabyte”)
Etymology 4Edit
Pronunciation 1Edit
LetterEdit
M
- The third letter of the Latin alphabet.
Pronunciation 2Edit
LetterEdit
M
- The thirteenth letter used in Pinyin.
Usage notesEdit
- 《汉语拼音方案》 defines a standard pronunciation for each letter. However, these pronunciations are rarely used in education; another pronunciation is commonly used instead.
- The pronunciation above are only used while referring to letters in Pinyin. They are not used in other context (such as English).
- The official pronunciation defined in 《汉语拼音方案》, ㄝㄇ (ê̄m), is not a valid syllable in Pinyin.
DutchEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (capital, lowercase m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Dutch alphabet.
See alsoEdit
EsperantoEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The sixteenth letter of the Esperanto alphabet, called mo and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
EstonianEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Estonian alphabet, called emm and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
FinnishEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Finnish alphabet, called äm or em and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) kirjain; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s (Š š), T t, U u, V v (W w), X x, Y y, Z z (Ž ž), Å å, Ä ä, Ö ö
NounEdit
M
- Abbreviation of magna cum laude approbatur.
- Abbreviation of mies. ("man, male")
FrenchEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (lowercase m)
- the thirteenth letter of the French alphabet, preceded by L and followed by N
GermanEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the German alphabet.
NounEdit
M f (genitive M, no plural)
- (historical, East Germany) Abbreviation of Mark der DDR.
- Coordinate term: DM
DeclensionEdit
HungarianEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The twenty-first letter of the Hungarian alphabet, called emm and written in the Latin script.
DeclensionEdit
Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony) | ||
---|---|---|
singular | plural | |
nominative | M | M-ek |
accusative | M-et | M-eket |
dative | M-nek | M-eknek |
instrumental | M-mel | M-ekkel |
causal-final | M-ért | M-ekért |
translative | M-mé | M-ekké |
terminative | M-ig | M-ekig |
essive-formal | M-ként | M-ekként |
essive-modal | — | — |
inessive | M-ben | M-ekben |
superessive | M-en | M-eken |
adessive | M-nél | M-eknél |
illative | M-be | M-ekbe |
sublative | M-re | M-ekre |
allative | M-hez | M-ekhez |
elative | M-ből | M-ekből |
delative | M-ről | M-ekről |
ablative | M-től | M-ektől |
non-attributive possessive - singular |
M-é | M-eké |
non-attributive possessive - plural |
M-éi | M-ekéi |
Possessive forms of M | ||
---|---|---|
possessor | single possession | multiple possessions |
1st person sing. | M-em | M-eim |
2nd person sing. | M-ed | M-eid |
3rd person sing. | M-e | M-ei |
1st person plural | M-ünk | M-eink |
2nd person plural | M-etek | M-eitek |
3rd person plural | M-ük | M-eik |
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) betű; A a, Á á, B b, C c, Cs cs, D d, Dz dz, Dzs dzs, E e, É é, F f, G g, Gy gy, H h, I i, Í í, J j, K k, L l, Ly ly, M m, N n, Ny ny, O o, Ó ó, Ö ö, Ő ő, P p, R r, S s, Sz sz, T t, Ty ty, U u, Ú ú, Ü ü, Ű ű, V v, Z z, Zs zs. Only in the extended alphabet: Q q W w X x Y y. Commonly used: ch. Also defined: à ë. In surnames (selection): ä aa cz ds eé eö ew oe oó th ts ÿ.
IdoEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Ido alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
IndonesianEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Indonesian alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
ItalianEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M f or m (invariable, upper case, lower case m)
- The eleventh letter of the Italian alphabet, called emme and written in the Latin script.
SymbolEdit
M
See alsoEdit
JapaneseEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From the initial letter of English medium.
NounEdit
SynonymsEdit
- 中 (chū)
Related termsEdit
Etymology 2Edit
From the initial letter of English masochism; compare English S&M.
NounEdit
- (sexuality, euphemistic) masochism, masochist
- (colloquial) submissive personality
AntonymsEdit
- S (esu)
Derived termsEdit
- ドM (do-emu)
LatvianEdit
EtymologyEdit
Proposed in 1908 as part of the new Latvian spelling by the scientific commission headed by K. Mīlenbahs, which was accepted and began to be taught in schools in 1909. Prior to that, Latvian had been written in German Fraktur, and sporadically in Cyrillic.
PronunciationEdit
(file) |
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The twentieth letter of the Latvian alphabet, called em and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
MalayEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M
- The thirteenth letter of the Malay alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
NupeEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The sixteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
PolishEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The seventeenth letter of the Polish alphabet, called em and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) A a, Ą ą, B b, C c, Ć ć, D d, E e, Ę ę, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, Ł ł, M m, N n, Ń ń, O o, Ó ó, P p (Q q), R r, S s, Ś ś, T t, U u (V v), W w (X x), Y y, Z z, Ź ź, Ż ż
Further readingEdit
PortugueseEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Portuguese alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
RomaniEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- (International Standard) The seventeenth letter of the Romani alphabet, written in the Latin script.
- (Pan-Vlax) The eighteenth letter of the Romani alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, X x, I i, J j, K k, Kh kh, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Ph ph, R r, S s, T t, Th th, U u, V v, Z z International Standard: (À à, Ä ä, Ǎ ǎ), Ć ć, Ćh ćh, (È è, Ë ë, Ě ě), (Ì ì, Ï ï, Ǐ ǐ), (Ò ò, Ö ö, Ǒ ǒ), Rr rr, Ś ś, (Ù ù, Ü ü, Ǔ ǔ), Ź ź, Ʒ ʒ, Q q, Ç ç, ϴ θ. Pan-Vlax: Č č, Čh čh, Dž dž, (Dź dź), Ř ř, Š š, (Ś ś), Ž ž, (Ź ź).
RomanianEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The sixteenth letter of the Romanian alphabet, called em, me, or mî and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
SaanichEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M
- The twentieth letter of the Saanich alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
Skolt SamiEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (lower case m)
- The twenty-first letter of the Skolt Sami alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
SloveneEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (capital, lowercase m)
- The 14th letter of the Slovene alphabet. Preceded by L and followed by N.
SomaliEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M upper case (lower case m)
- The eighteenth letter of the Somali alphabet, called miim and written in the Latin script.
Usage notesEdit
- The eighteenth letter of the Somali alphabet, which follows Arabic abjad order. It is preceded by L and followed by N.
See alsoEdit
SpanishEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- the 13th letter of the Spanish alphabet
TurkishEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The sixteenth letter of the Turkish alphabet, called me and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
VietnameseEdit
PronunciationEdit
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [ʔɛ˧˧ məː˨˩], [ʔɛm˧˧ məː˨˩], [məː˨˩]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [ʔɛ˧˧ məː˦˩], [ʔɛm˧˧ məː˦˩], [məː˦˩]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [ʔɛ˧˧ məː˨˩], [ʔɛm˧˧ məː˨˩], [məː˨˩]
- Phonetic: e mờ, em mờ, mờ
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The fifteenth letter of the Vietnamese alphabet, called e-mờ, em-mờ, or mờ and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
- (Quốc ngữ letters) chữ cái; A a (À à, Ả ả, Ã ã, Á á, Ạ ạ), Ă ă (Ằ ằ, Ẳ ẳ, Ẵ ẵ, Ắ ắ, Ặ ặ), Â â (Ầ ầ, Ẩ ẩ, Ẫ ẫ, Ấ ấ, Ậ ậ), B b, C c (Ch ch), D d, Đ đ, E e (È è, Ẻ ẻ, Ẽ ẽ, É é, Ẹ ẹ), Ê ê (Ề ề, Ể ể, Ễ ễ, Ế ế, Ệ ệ), G g (Gh gh, Gi gi), H h, I i (Ì ì, Ỉ ỉ, Ĩ ĩ, Í í, Ị ị), K k (Kh kh), L l, M m, N n (Ng ng, Ngh ngh, Nh nh), O o (Ò ò, Ỏ ỏ, Õ õ, Ó ó, Ọ ọ), Ô ô (Ồ ồ, Ổ ổ, Ỗ ỗ, Ố ố, Ộ ộ), Ơ ơ (Ờ ờ, Ở ở, Ỡ ỡ, Ớ ớ, Ợ ợ), P p (Ph ph), Q q (Qu qu), R r, S s, T t (Th th, Tr tr), U u (Ù ù, Ủ ủ, Ũ ũ, Ú ú, Ụ ụ), Ư ư (Ừ ừ, Ử ử, Ữ ữ, Ứ ứ, Ự ự), V v, X x, Y y (Ỳ ỳ, Ỷ ỷ, Ỹ ỹ, Ý ý, Ỵ ỵ)
WelshEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The seventeenth letter of the Welsh alphabet, called em and written in the Latin script. It is preceded by Ll and followed by N.
MutationEdit
- M at the beginning of words mutates to F in a soft mutation, but is unchanged by nasal mutation and aspirate mutation, for example with the word merch (“girl, daughter”):
Welsh mutation | |||
---|---|---|---|
radical | soft | nasal | aspirate |
merch | ferch | unchanged | unchanged |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) llythyren; A a (Á á, À à, Â â, Ä ä), B b, C c, Ch ch, D d, Dd dd, E e (É é, È è, Ê ê, Ë ë), F f, Ff ff, G g, Ng ng, H h, I i (Í í, Ì ì, Î î, Ï ï), J j, L l, Ll ll, M m, N n, O o (Ó ó, Ò ò, Ô ô, Ö ö), P p, Ph ph, R r, Rh rh, S s, T t, Th th, U u (Ú ú, Ù ù, Û û, Ü ü), W w (Ẃ ẃ, Ẁ ẁ, Ŵ ŵ, Ẅ ẅ), Y y (Ý ý, Ỳ ỳ, Ŷ ŷ, Ÿ ÿ)
Further readingEdit
- R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), chapter M, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies
YorubaEdit
PronunciationEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The fourteenth letter of the Yoruba alphabet, called mí and written in the Latin script.
See alsoEdit
- (Latin-script letters) lẹ́tà; A a (Á á, À à, Ā ā), B b, D d, E e (É é, È è, Ē ē), Ẹ ẹ (Ẹ́ ẹ́, Ẹ̀ ẹ̀, Ẹ̄ ẹ̄), F f, G g, Gb gb, H h, I i (Í í, Ì ì, Ī ī), J j, K k, L l, M m (Ḿ ḿ, M̀ m̀, M̄ m̄), N n (Ń ń, Ǹ ǹ, N̄ n̄), O o (Ó ó, Ò ò, Ō ō), Ọ ọ (Ọ́ ọ́, Ọ̀ ọ̀, Ọ̄ ọ̄), P p, R r, S s, Ṣ ṣ, T t, U u (Ú ú, Ù ù, Ū ū), W w, Y y
ZuluEdit
LetterEdit
M (upper case, lower case m)
- The thirteenth letter of the Zulu alphabet, written in the Latin script.