Turkic etymology :

Proto-Turkic: *eme

Altaic etymology: Altaic etymology

Meaning: 1 female 2 old woman

Russian meaning: 1 самка 2 старуха

Karakhanid: oma (MK "Tibetan") 1 (?)

Turkish: dial. eme 2

Azerbaidzhan: dial. ämä 2

Chuvash: ama 1

Kirghiz: eme 2

Comments: VEWT 42, ЭСТЯ 220, Егоров 25, EDT 156 (a "nursery" word, spread also in other Altaic languages).

Altaic etymology :

Proto-Altaic: *ĕ̀me

Nostratic: Nostratic

Meaning: woman, female

Russian meaning: женщина, самка

Turkic: *eme

Mongolian: *eme

Tungus-Manchu: *emV

Korean: *ámh

Japanese: *mía

Comments: EAS 116, Цинциус 1972a, 20-27, Menges 1984, 265, АПиПЯЯ 89, 279. In Jpn. cf. also omo 'mother' (see Ozawa 61, Murayama 1962, 110, Miller 1985a, 82); in MKor. also ǝ́mí 'mother' (see Martin 236). Jpn. mia represents a relatively rare case of a loss of initial vowel in Japanese.

Mongolian etymology :

Proto-Mongolian: *eme

Altaic etymology: Altaic etymology

Meaning: 1 woman 2 wife

Russian meaning: 1 женщина 2 жена

Written Mongolian: eme 1 (L 311)

Middle Mongolian: eme 1, emege (HY 29), emegu'un 2 (HY 30, SH), emä (IM), imä̆ (MA) 1

Khalkha: em 1, emgen 2

Buriat: eme 1

Kalmuck: emǝ 1

Ordos: eme 1, emegen 'old woman'

Dongxian: eme 1

Baoan: eme 1

Dagur: emgun, emeg 1, 2 (Тод. Даг. 139), eme (MD, 143) 1,2

Shary-Yoghur: eme 1

Monguor: imu (: xara ~) 'nom que la jeune fille se donn devant ses parents le jour de son mariage' (SM 192), mugen 'femme âgée' (SM 245)

Mogol: ZM emmä (9-6b)

Comments: KW 121, MGCD 259. Mong. emegčin 'female' > Yak. emēxsin, Dolg. emēksin (Kaɫ. MEJ 45, Stachowski 45).

Tungus etymology :

Proto-Tungus-Manchu: *emV

Altaic etymology: Altaic etymology

Meaning: 1 mother-in-law 2 female 3 female deer, elk

Russian meaning: 1 теща, свекровь 2 самка 3 самка оленя, лося

Evenki: emugde, umigde 3

Even: ömiri 3

Negidal: umigde 3

Spoken Manchu: emǝxǝ 1 (926)

Literary Manchu: emile 2, emeke 1

Nanai: emxe 1

Comments: ТМС 2, 268, 451-452.

Korean etymology :

Proto-Korean: *ámh

Altaic etymology: Altaic etymology

Meaning: woman, wife, female

Russian meaning: женщина, жена, самка

Modern Korean: am

Middle Korean: ám (ámh-)

Comments: Nam 348, KED 1093.

Japanese etymology :

Proto-Japanese: *mía

Altaic etymology: Altaic etymology

Meaning: 1 woman 2 female

Russian meaning: 1 женщина 2 самка

Old Japanese: mje 1

Middle Japanese: mé 1

Tokyo: me-sú 2

Kyoto: mé-sù

Kagoshima: me-sú

Hateruma: mìdùmú 1

Yonakuni: mìnúNà 1

Comments: JLTT 474, 476. Although modern dialects point to *mià-sù, RJ has explicitly mé with a high tone.

Nostratic etymology :

Eurasiatic: *ʔVmV

Meaning: mother, woman

Borean: Borean

Indo-European: *mā-t-er-

Altaic: *ĕ̀me

Uralic: *emä (cf. also *imV)

Dravidian: *am-

Eskimo-Aleut: *ǝma

References: ND 39 *ʔemA, 1356 *mA(ʔ)a(-yV).

Indo-European etymology :

Proto-IE: *mā-t-er-

Nostratic etymology: Nostratic etymology

Meaning: mother

Tokharian: A mācar, B mācer (PT *mācer) 'mother' (Adams 447)

Old Indian: mātár- f. `mother'; mātr̥ka- `maternal', m. `maternal uncle', mātr̥kā f. `mother, grandmother'

Avestan: mātar- 'Mutter'

Armenian: mair, gen. maur `Mutter'; mauru, gen. maurui `Schwiegermutter'

Old Greek: mǟ́tēr, gen. mǟtrós, acc. mǟtéra f. `Mutter', a-mǟ́tōr `mutterlos; mǟ́trā f. `Gebärmutter, Mutterleib'; mǟ́trōs m. `männlicher Verwandter der Mutter, Oheim, Grossvater', mǟtrüi̯ǟ́ f. Stiefmutter, Schwiegermutter

Slavic: *mā́tī, gen. *mā́tere; *mā́tīcā, *mā́tъkā

Baltic: *mā̂tē̃ (-er-es) (1), *pā=matr-iā̃ f., *mā̂t-jā̂ f. (1)

Germanic: *mōdḗr; *mṓɵr-i- c.; *mōɵr-ik-ō f.

Latin: māter, gen. -tris f. `Mutter; Amme'; mātrīx `Gebährmutter; Muttertier, Zuchttier; Stammutter'; mātrōna f. `ehrbare, verheiratete Frau'

Other Italic: Osk maatreís `mātrīs'; Umbr matrer `mātrīs'

Celtic: *māter- > OIr māthir `Mutter'; *mātrkʷā > Gaul Ματρεβο `Matribus'; OCymr pl. modrep-ed `Mattersschwester' NCymr modryb `Muttersschwester', OBret motrep, NB moedreb `Muttersschwester'

Albanian: motrε Schwester

Russ. meaning: мать

References: WP II 229 f

Comments: See the "short" form in 720 mā-, *māmā.

Vasmer's dictionary :

Baltic etymology :

Proto-Baltic: *mā̂tē̃ (-er-es) (1), *pā=matr-iā̃ f., *mā̂t-jā̂ f. (1)

Meaning: woman, mother

Indo-European etymology: Indo-European etymology

Lithuanian: mṓtē, gen. -ers, dial., alt -eres `Frau, Weib, Ehefrau, dial. Mutter', mṓteri, gen. -ies, pl. gen. mṓterų̄ `Frau'; pãmōtē `Stiefmutter'; mṓčia 'Mutter' {Lyberis: mṓtē (1) 'жена; мать'; mṓter-is [-ies (s), -ų] (1) 'женщина'; mṓtina (1) 'мать' - В. Ч.}

Lettish: mãte `Mutter; ehrende Bezeichnung für ältere Frau; Weibche bei manchern Tieren; eine Gottheit (in heidnischer Zeit)', pamãte `Stiefmutter'

Old Prussian: mūti Ench. 43:32, muti Grunau 69, mothe V. 170 `Mutter', pomatre `Stiefmutter' V. 180;

Germanic etymology :

Proto-Germanic: *mōdḗr; *mṓɵri-z; *mōɵrikō

Meaning: mother

IE etymology: IE etymology

Old Norse: mōδir f. `Mutter'; pl. mȫδgin n. `Mother und Sohn'; pl. f. mȫδgur f. `Mutter und Tochter'

Norwegian: moder; dial. megga `Frau'

Old Swedish: Run. múɵkini; muɵrku

Swedish: moder

Old Danish: Run. mūɵrkin

Danish: moder

Old English: mōdor, gen. mōdor/mēder f. `mother (of human beings and animals)'

English: mother

Old Frisian: mōder `Mutter'; mōther `Brustbinde der Frauen'

Old Saxon: mōdar; mōdire `Mutters Schwester'

Middle Dutch: moeder f.

Dutch: moeder f.

Old Franconian: muoder; OLG mōder `Brustbinde der Frauen'

Old High German: muoter `Mutter' (8.Jh.); muotera `Mutters Schwester'; muodar (11.Jh.) `Bauch, Mutter(leib), Haut, die Brust umschliessendes Kleidungsstück für Männer und Frauen, Leibchen'

Middle High German: muoter st. f. an. 'mutter (von menschen, tieren u. pflanzen)'; muoder st. n. 'bauch; rundlicher leib, leibesgestalt; oberfläche des körpers, haut; die brust umschliessendes kleidungsstück, leibchen, mieder; bauchige wölbung des bewegten meeres'

German: Mutter f.; [ Mieder с диал. фонетикой ]

Pokorny's dictionary :

Number: 1225

Root: mātér-

English meaning: mother

German meaning: `Mutter'

General comments: beruht auf dem Lallwort mā, s. dort.

Material: Ai. mātár- `Mutter', av. mātar-, arm. mair ds. (Gen. maur = gr. μητρός usw.); aphryg. Nom. Akk. ματαρ, ματεραν, Gen. ματερεζ; gr. μήτηρ, dor. μά̄τηρ (mit verschobenem Nominativakzent wie θυγάτηρ); dazu hom. Δημήτηρ, thess. Δαμμάτερι; alb. motrë `Schwester' (ursprüngl. `die ältere, Mutterstelle vertretende Schwester'); lat. māter, -tris `Mutter, Amme, Quelle', osk. maatreís, umbr. matrer `matris'; gall. (?) Ματρεβο `Matribus'; air. māthir `Mutter' (cymr. modrydaf `Bienenstock' mit bydaf `Nest wilder Bienen' als 2. Glied); ahd. muoter, ags. mōdor, aisl. mōðir `Mutter'; lit. mótė (Gen. alit. motės, lit. moter̃s) `Weib, Ehefrau' (mótyna `Mutter', motera `Frauenzimmer, Weib'), lett. mâte `Mutter', apr. mūti, mothe `Mutter' (pomatre `Stiefmutter'); aksl. mati (Gen. matere) `Mutter'; toch. A mācar, В mācer.

    An Ableitungen (z. B. mātruu̯iā) vgl.:

    ai. mātr̥ka- `mütterlich', m. `Mutters Bruder', mātr̥kā `Mutter, Großmutter'; aber ncymr. modryb `Muttersschwester', acymr. modrep-ed Pl., abret. motrep, nbret. moereb ds. (*mātr_okʷā, zu okʷ- `sehen', als `wie eine Mutter aussehend');

    gr. μήτρα f. `Gebärmutter, Mark der Pflanzen', lat. mātrīx `Gebärmutter; Zuchttier', ahd. muodar `Bauch einer Schlange', andd. mōder, afries. mōther `Brustbinde der Frauen', mhd. müeder, nhd. Mieder;

    arm. mauru, Gen. maurui `Stiefmutter' (*mātruu̯i̯ā =) gr. μητρυιά̄ `Stiefmutter', zum n-St. erweitert in ags. mōdrige, afries. mōdire, mnd. mödder `Mutters Schwester' (*mōdruu̯i̯ōn-, ahd.muotera ds. nach muoter umgebildet?), mit hochstuf. Formans *mātrō[ū]-: gr. μήτρως, -ω[]ος, dor. μά̄τρως `Oheim oder Großvater mütterlicherseits', μητρώιος `mütterlich' (Bed. nach μήτηρ verändert);

    lat. mātrōna `Ehefrau'; mātertera `Mutters Schwester' (*mātro-terā); māteria, māteriēs `Schößlinge von Fruchtbäumen, Bauholz, Nutzholz, Material'; gall. FlN Mātrŏna `Marne' = cymr. GN Modron f.

    slav. *mātero- in russ. materój `außerordentlich, groß, stark, fest', serb. mȁtor `alt, bes. von Tieren', abg. materьstvo `πρεσβει̃ον' (: lat. māteriēs).

References: WP. II 229 f., WH. II 49 ff., Berneker II 25, Trautmann 170 f.

Pages: 700-701

PIE database: PIE database

Uralic etymology :

Number: 136

Proto: *emä

> Nostratic: > Nostratic

English meaning: mother, female

German meaning: Mutter, Weib

Finnish: emä 'Weibchen; Mutter; Gebärmutter' ( > Saam. jì^.èmie 'Gebärmutter'), emäntä 'Hausmutter, Wirtin', emäsika 'Sau'

Estonian: ema 'Mutter; Gebärmutter'

Saam (Lapp): ǣmest (N) 'von der Geburt an', ǣme-lii'ke 'die Haut des neugeborenen Kindes', iemē ~ ǟmē (L) 'von Anfang an, von Natur'

Hungarian: eme (emét) (dial.) 'Sau; (altung.) Weibchen', em-bēr 'Mensch; (dial.) Mann', em-se (dial.) 'Sau'

Nenets (Yurak): ńeb́e (O), ńeḿe (Nj.) 'Mutter'

Enets (Yen): ǟ (Ch.)

Nganasan (Tawgi): ńame

Selkup: ämä (TaU), awa (Ke.), äwä (Ty.), ē̮mi̮ (Tur.)

Janhunen's version: (110) *ä/emä

Sammalahti's version: *emä

Addenda: Koib. имада; Mot. ima-m (Px1Sg.); Taig. emme, ima-m (Px1Sg.)

Yukaghir parallels: emėi 'Mutter; mother'

References: FUV; SKES; Budenz MUSz. 783; EtSz.; MSzFgrE; TESz.; SzófSz.; Paas. Beitr. 12; Collinder JukUr. 76; Angere J. Die uralo-jukagirische Frage..., 128

Dravidian etymology :

Proto-Dravidian : *áma-

Meaning : mother (hon.)

Nostratic etymology: Nostratic etymology

Proto-South Dravidian: *ammā ~ *ammai

Proto-Telugu : *amma

Proto-Kolami-Gadba : *amma

Proto-Gondi-Kui : *amma-

Brahui : ammā

Notes : The most common, and most certainly, primary meaning of the stem is 'mother'; however, much like *ápa-, this is the "formal" root for this relative, and is in that function opposed to *aj- q. v. // Present in 5/6 branches.

South Dravidian etymology :

Proto-South Dravidian : *ammā ~ *ammai

Meaning : mother

Dravidian etymology: Dravidian etymology

Tamil : ammā, ammāḷ

Tamil meaning : mother, matron, lady

Tamil derivates : (also amma, ammamma) excl. of pity, surprise, joy; ammai mother, name of various goddesses, grandmother; amman_ai mother, lady; amman_ goddess; amman_ē excl. of surprise; ammācci, ammāttāḷ, ammāy maternal grandmother; ammān_ maternal uncle, wife's father, husband of father's sister; ammāmmi maternal uncle's wife, husband's mother; ammanti maternal uncle's wife; ammāñci son of a maternal uncle, fool; ammaŋkār, ammaŋkāḷ daughter of a maternal uncle, wife of a Vaiṣṇava priest; ammaṇi term of respect used in referring to or calling a woman

Malayalam : amma

Malayalam meaning : mother, goddess (esp. Kāḷi)

Malayalam derivates : interj. (also ammē, ammammā); ammamma mother's mother; ammān, ammāvan, ammāman, ammōn, ammōman maternal uncle; ammāyi, ammāvi maternal aunt, uncle's wife, mother-in-law; ammiṇi affectionate appellation esp. of infants, sometimes of mother and wife

Kannada : amma, ama

Kannada meaning : mother, respectable woman, grandmother, village goddess; interj. denoting pain or weariness, grief, surprise (also amama, ammamma)

Kannada derivates : amba, ambe mother

Kodagu : ammë

Kodagu meaning : Amma Coorg (a brahminized subcaste of Coorgs, said to be descended from a Coorg man and a Brahman girl [their amma or mother] whose customs they observe)

Kodagu derivates : fem. ammati

Tulu : amma

Tulu meaning : mother, lady

Tulu derivates : amme father; ammayya interj. of sorrow or pain; tammalè maternal uncle, father-in-law

Proto-Nilgiri : *am-

Irula : amme

Irula meaning : father

Notes : The most common stem is the one ending in *-ā; *ammai is also reconstructible on the basis of Tam. ammai, Mal. amma, Iru. amme. Kannaḍa forms with -mb- seem to have been reborrowed from Indo-Aryan. The meaning 'mother' is common for almost all dialects, but in some of them the derivative form *ammai has assumed the meaning 'father' (cf. Tam. ammān_ 'maternal uncle, wife's father', i. e. 'he-of-mother').

Number in DED : 0183

Nilgiri etymology :

Proto-Nilgiri : *am-

Meaning : mother goddess of the Kota trinity

South Dravidian etymology: South Dravidian etymology

Kota : amn, amnōr, amnāc

Number in DED : 183

Telugu etymology :

Proto-Telugu : *amma

Meaning : mother, matron; hon. title of woman; interj. expr. surprise

Dravidian etymology: Dravidian etymology

Telugu : amma

Dialectal forms (1) : ama

Additional forms : Also [1] ammāyi, [2] ammi girl

Number in DED : 183

Kolami-Gadba etymology :

Proto-Kolami-Gadba : *amma

Meaning : mother; sister

Dravidian etymology: Dravidian etymology

Kolami : amma (pl. ammanev) "mother"

Naikri : amma "mother"

Naiki : amṛo "elder brother's wife"

Salur Gadba : ammi "younger sister"

Additional forms : Also Kolami avre tāk ammaner their parents (tāk father); Naiki amma tāk parents

Number in DED : 183

Gondwan etymology :

Proto-Gondi-Kui : *amma-

Meaning : female relative

Dravidian etymology: Dravidian etymology

Proto-Gondi : *ammal

Konda : ama (pl. amek)

Proto-Pengo-Manda : *ama

Proto-Kui-Kuwi : *amma

Notes : The Gondi semantic shift to 'father' can be connected with the "extra" suffix -l.

Gondi etymology :

Proto-Gondi : *ammal

Meaning : father; grandmother

Gondwan etymology: Gondwan etymology

Maria Gondi : ammal (pl. -or) "father"

Seoni Gondi : ammal (pl. ammahku) "mother's mother"

Maria Gondi (Mitchell) : amma "father"

Number in DED : 183

Number in CVOTGD : 67, 68

Konda etymology :

Konda : ama (pl. amek)

Meaning: grandmother; used in addressing wife in a folktale

Gondwan etymology: Gondwan etymology

Number in DED : 183

Pengo-Manda etymology :

Proto-Pengo-Manda : *ama

Meaning : father's sister

Gondwan etymology: Gondwan etymology

Pengo : ama

Manda : ama

Number in DED : 183

Kui-Kuwi etymology :

Proto-Kui-Kuwi : *amma

Meaning : maternal relation

Gondwan etymology: Gondwan etymology

Kui : ama, amali, amadi "father's sister, maternal uncle's wife, lady"

Kuwi (Fitzgerald) : amma "paternal aunt"

Kuwi (Schulze) : amma "aunt, mother-in-law"

Number in DED : 183

Brahui etymology :

Brahui : ammā

Meaning : mother, grandmother; respectful term of address to any woman

Dravidian etymology: Dravidian etymology

Number in DED : 183

Eskimo etymology :

Proto-Eskimo: *ǝma

Nostratic etymology: Nostratic etymology

Meaning: grand-mother, mother

Russian meaning: бабушка, мама

Proto-Yupik: *ǝma

Proto-Inupik: *ama-ama

Comparative Eskimo Dictionary: 109

Yupik etymology :

Proto-Yupik: *ǝma

Eskimo etymology: Eskimo etymology

Meaning: grand-mother

Russian Meaning: бабушка

Chaplino: ǝmmaj voc. 'mother!'

Naukan: ǝ́ma, ǝmáŋa

Alutiiq Alaskan Yupik: ǝma, ǝmāq

Central Alaskan Yupik: mauʁluq, maχɫuɣaq

CAY Dialects: UK ǝmacuŋaq

Comparative Eskimo Dictionary: 109

Inupik etymology :

Proto-Inupik: *ạma-ama

Eskimo etymology: Eskimo etymology

Meaning: mother

Russian meaning: мать, мама

SPI Dialects: W amāma*

NAI Dialects: B, Ingl amāma*

Western Canadian Inupik: Cor amāma*

WCI Dialects: Net, Cop amāma

Greenlandic Inupik: amâma* [Jen.]

Comparative Eskimo Dictionary: 109

Long-range etymologies :

Borean (approx.) : HVMV

Meaning : mother

Eurasiatic : *ʔVmV

Afroasiatic : *ʔVma ~ *ma(y)

Sino-Caucasian : *HV̆mV̄́

Austric : PAA *meʔ / *ma(ʔ) 'mother', Daic *me 'mother, woman, female' (Usher)

African (misc.) : Bantu *-máá.

Reference : ND 39, 1356.

Afroasiatic etymology :

Proto-Afro-Asiatic: *ʔVma/*ma(y)

Meaning: mother

Borean etymology: Borean etymology

Semitic: *ʔu/imm- 'mother'

Berber: *maH 'mother'

Egyptian: mw.t (pyr) 'mother'

Western Chadic: *maH- 'mother' (?)

Central Chadic: *ʔama 'mother'

High East Cushitic: *ʔam- 'mother'

South Cushitic: *ʔam- 'grandmother' 1, 'sister' 2, 'mother' 3, 'girl' 4 (otherwise to No. 81)

Notes: A nursery word? Rather to be separated from *ʔam- 'woman'. HSED 34: Sem. *ʔam- 'maid, girl', WCh *ʔam- 'woman', HECu *ʔam- 'mother, wife, woman', SCu. Cf. Iraqw Bur mamay, Dah ʔááma 'mother's brother' [Ehret SCP 282].

Semitic etymology :

Number: 1979

Proto-Semitic: *ʔu/imm-

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: 'mother'

Akkadian: umm- 'Mutter' OB [AHw 1416]

Eblaitic: /ʔummum/ [Fronz EL 151] AMOR /ʔi/ummum [Gelb CAAA 14]

Amorite: /ʔi/ummum/ [Gelb CAAA 14]

Ugaritic: um 'madre', pl. umhthm [DLU 34]

Phoenician: [Tomb. 23]

Hebrew: ʔēm 'mother (also father's wife; grandmother; ancestress)' [KB 61], pl. suff. ʔimmōhēnū, ʔimmōhām

Judaic Aramaic: ʔīmmā 'mother' [Ja 50]

Syrian Aramaic: ʔem(m)-, pl. ʔemhāt-, ʔemh- 'mater; abbatissa'; ʔemhāy- 'maternus' (adj.) [Brock 23]

Arabic: ʔumm- 'mère', pl. ʔummāt-, ʔummahāt- ("нек-рые считают, что первая форма применяется к животным, вторая - к людям") [BK 1 50]; (dual) ʔummān- 'les père et mère' [BK 1 50]

Epigraphic South Arabian: SAB ʔmm 'mother' [SD 5] ʔm-t 'bondwoman, female vassal' [ibid.]

Geʕez (Ethiopian): ʔǝmm 'mother' [LGz 22]

Tigre: ʔǝm, pl. ʔǝmmat 'mother' [LH 353]

Harari: umma 'grandmother' [LHar 25]

Gurage: MAS GOG ǝmm, ENN END äm, SOD ǝmmit, GYE ämiyät 'female, mother' [LGur 42]; (all) ǝmmiyä 'big, large'

Mehri: ḥām, indef. (rare) ʔɛ̄m, hāmē, pl. ḥāmēt 'mother' [JM 5]

Jibbali: ʔum 'big'

Soqotri: ʔaʔam 'big'

Berber etymology :

Proto-Berber: *maH

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: 'mother'

Ghadames: mā

Ayr: ma, pl. matt (maw)

Ahaggar (Tahaggart): ma, pl. matt (maw)

Tawllemmet: ma, pl. matt (maw)

Semlal: yǝmmi 'ma mère', māk 'ta m.'

Egyptian etymology :

Old Egyptian: mw.t (pyr)

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: 'mother'

West Chadic etymology :

Proto-WChadic: *maH-

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: 'mother'

Warji: maɣay [SkNb]

Kariya: māh ǝ

Siri: mā

Mburku: māxǝ

Central Chadic etymology :

Proto-CChadic: *ʔama

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: 'mother'

Kilba: āmà [Kr N 29]

Wamdiu: umà [Kr]

Hildi=Margi Mbazuwa: amà [Kr]

Malgwa: ǝ́mma, ū́ma [Lr]

Ngweshe: ū́ma [Lr] weiblich, Mutter' (may originate < *muma as well)

Mada: ammá [BMad]

Mafa=Matakam: amiy [TMnj]

Notes: cp. ZB ʔám 'to marry' [Sa]. Cp. a variant *ma(ma) in CCh, for ex.: Mlg ma, mama

High East Cushitic etymology :

Proto-High East Cushitic: *ʔam-

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: 'mother' 1, 'wife, woman' 2

Sidamo: ama 1

Darasa (Gedeo): ama 1

Burji (Bambala, Dashe): aama 1, 2

Kambatta: ama-ta 1

South Cushitic etymology :

Proto-South Cushitic: *ʔam-

Afroasiatic etymology: Afroasiatic etymology

Meaning: 'grandmother' 1, 'sister' 2, 'mother' 3, 'girl' 4

Iraqw (Mbulu): ama 1

Burunge (Mbulungi): ama 2

Asa-Aramanic: ʔama-ʔeto 4, ʔama- ma 1

Qwadza (Ngomvia): ama 3

Sino-Caucasian etymology :

Proto-Sino-Caucasian: *HV̆mV̄́

Meaning: mother

Borean etymology: Borean etymology

Sino-Tibetan: *mǝ̄H

Burushaski: *-́mi

Basque: *ema-

Comments and references : A universal root; nevertheless, quite plausibly reconstructable for PSC.

Sino-Tibetan etymology :

Proto-Sino-Tibetan: *mǝ̄H

Sino-Caucasian etymology: Sino-Caucasian etymology

Meaning: mother; woman

Chinese: 母 *mǝ̄ʔ mother.

Tibetan: ma mother (cf. also rmo grandmother).

Burmese: (?) maj mother, LB *ma (Ben.) (cf. Burm. -ma female suffix), ǝ-maʔ female, woman.

Lepcha: mo, a-mo mother

Kiranti: *mä́

Comments: PG *ama mother; BG: Garo ama, Bodo má mother, bi-ma female; Kham -ma the female of a species; Kanauri ama; Lepcha amo; Bahing ǝmo (but wǝma my mother), Vayu umu; Digaro na-ma, Dhimal ama; Chepang ma. Ben. 148.

Chinese characters :

Character: 母

Modern (Beijing) reading: mǔ

Preclassic Old Chinese: mǝ̄ʔ

Classic Old Chinese: mǝ̄́

Western Han Chinese: mǝ̄́

Eastern Han Chinese: mǝ̄́

Early Postclassic Chinese: mṓw

Middle Postclassic Chinese: mǝ̄́w

Late Postclassic Chinese: mǝ̄́w

Middle Chinese: mʌ́w

English meaning : mother

Russian meaning[s]: 1) мать, матушка, мамаша; пожилая женщина; самка; единоутробный, от одной матери; материнское (производящее) начало; 2) основная часть; капитал; 3) общее (в противоположность частному); 4) знаменатель (дроби); 5) фонетик (иероглифа); 6) Му (фамилия)

Shuowen gloss: 牧也.從女.象懷子形.一曰象乳子也.

Comments: For initial *m- cf. Min forms: Xiamen bo³, Chaozhou bo³, Fuzhou, Jianou mu³.

Sino-Tibetan etymology: Sino-Tibetan etymology

Dialectal data: Dialectal data

Radical: 80

Four-angle index: 4758

Karlgren code: 0947 a-e

Vietnamese reading: mẫu

Jianchuan Bai: -mo1

Dali Bai: -mo1

Bijiang Bai: -mo1

Shijing occurrences: 2.3_, 29.4, 32.1, 32.2, 32.3, 32.4, 39.2, 45.1, 45.2, 51.1, 51.2_

Chinese Dialects :

Number: 185

Chinese etymology: Chinese etymology

Character: 母

MC description : 流開一上厚明

ZIHUI: 3018 0753

Beijing: mu 2

Jinan: mu 2

Xi'an: mu 2

Taiyuan: mu 2

Hankou: moŋ 2

Chengdu: mu 2

Yangzhou: mo 2

Suzhou: mo 11

Wenzhou: mo 22

Changsha: mo 2

Shuangfeng: mû 2

Nanchang: mu 2

Meixian: mu 11

Guangzhou: mou 22

Xiamen: bu 2 (lit.); bo 2

Chaozhou: bo 21

Fuzhou: mu 2

Shanghai: mu 3

Zhongyuan yinyun: mu 2

Kiranti etymology :

Proto-Kiranti: *mä́, *mä́m

Sino-Tibetan etymology: Sino-Tibetan etymology

Meaning: mother

Tulung: mam mother, (Toba) mim 'grandmother'

Kaling: 'mäm

Limbu: mā, mammā

Dumi: mama

Kulung: ma 'mother', mǝma 'grandmother'

Yamphu: ma, ma:ma 'mother', maʔma 'grandmother'

Comments: Toba 90 *mim 'grandmother', 93 *'mäm 'mother'.

Limbu dictionary :

Entry: ma, -mma

Kiranti etymology: Kiranti etymology

Grammar: n.

Meaning: mother, (also familiarly: mother-in-law).

Dumi dictionary :

Entry: mama

Kiränti etymology: Kiränti etymology

Grammar: n.

Meaning: mother.

Kulung dictionary :

Entry: ma

Kiranti etymology: Kiranti etymology

Grammar: n.

Meaning: mother

Nepali: āmā.

Yamphu dictionary :

Entry: ma

Kiranti etymology: Kiranti etymology

Grammar: bound morph.

Meaning: mother

Comments: kaŋma my mother.

Yenisseian etymology :

Proto-Yenisseian: *ʔama

Sino-Caucasian etymology: Sino-Caucasian etymology

Meaning: mother

Ket: ām, pl. amǝŋ⁶

Yug: am, pl. amɨŋ^5,6 / ame:ŋ³

Kottish: āma, g. āmi, pl. āman, (Бол.) ama; асс. áma (М., Сл., Срсл., Кл.)

Arin: amä (Стр.); b́aḿa (М., Сл., Срсл., Кл., Ф.); (Лоск.) ajame

Pumpokol: am (Сл., Срсл., Кл.)

Comments: ССЕ 181. Werner 1, 95.

Burushaski etymology :

Common Burushaski: *-́mi

Sino-Caucasian Etymology: Sino-Caucasian Etymology

Meaning: mother

Yasin: -́mi

Hunza: -́mi

Nagar: -́mi

Basque etymology :

Proto-Basque: *eme / *ema-, *ama

Sino-Caucasian etymology: Sino-Caucasian etymology

Meaning: 1 female 2 woman 3 woman (married or widow) 4 woman (married) 5 mother 6 girl

Bizkaian: eme 1, emakume, emakuma 2, emazte 4, ama 5

Gipuzkoan: eme 1, emakume 2, emazte 4, ama 5

High Navarrese: eme 1, emazte 4, ama 5

Low Navarrese: emazte 4, ama 5, (Baigorri) emakume 6

Salazarese: emazte 2, emakume 6

Lapurdian: emakume 2, emazte 4, ama 5

Baztanese: emakume 2

Aezkoan: emazte 2

Zuberoan: emazte 3, ama 5

Roncalese: emakume 2, emazte 4, ama 5

Comments: For *ema-ste see *-ste. Trask (1995) mentions the supposed derivation from Romance (Occitan heme 'female'), but *eme seems to be deeply imbedded in Bsq and is thus of a much older origin (PSC *HV̆mV́).

Austric etymology :

Proto-Austric: *mVʔ

Meaning: mother

Borean etymology: Borean etymology

Proto-Austroasiatic: *meʔ / *ma(ʔ)

Austroasiatic meaning: mother

Proto-Thai: mɛ:.B mother; relative; mia.A wife

Austro-Asiatic etymology :

Proto-Austro-Asiatic: *meʔ / *ma(ʔ)

Meaning: mother

Austric etymology: Austric etymology

Thai: mɛ:.B mother; relative; mia.A wife

Proto-Katuic: *meʔ / *me:ʔ

Proto-Bahnaric: *meʔ

Khmer: mǝ: < OK me, ʔǝme

Proto-Monic: *m[ɛ/e]:ʔ

Proto-Palaungic: *maʔ

Proto-Khmu: *maʔ

Khasi: kymie

References: Kh 714, VHL 80, S-292

Katuic etymology :

Proto-Katuic: *meʔ / *me:ʔ

Meaning: mother

Presyllable: ʔǝ-

Austro-Asiatic etymology: Austro-Asiatic etymology

Proto-West Katuic: KUI ʔǝmɛʔ.N

Proto-East Katuic: AND ʔǝme:ʔ

References: P-463

West Katuic etymology :

Proto-West Katuic:

Meaning: mother

Katuic etymology: Katuic etymology

Kui: ʔǝmɛʔ.N

Kui meaning: mother

East Katuic etymology :

Proto-East Katuic:

Meaning: mother

Katuic etymology: Katuic etymology

Katu dialects (1): ʔǝme:ʔ

Katu dialects (2): ʔǝme:ʔ

Katu dialects (3): ame:ʔ

Katu meaning: mother

Bahnar etymology :

Proto-Bahnaric: *meʔ

Meaning: mother

Presyllable: #

Austro-Asiatic etymology: Austro-Asiatic etymology

Bahnar: meʔ

Bahnar meaning: mother

Proto-North Bahnaric: *miʔ.T V?

Proto-South Bahnaric: *me

Proto-West Bahnaric: *meʔ

References: JS-316, TB7.40, TB7.41

North Bahnaric etymology :

Proto-North-Bahnaric: *miʔ.T

Meaning: mother

Bahnaric etymology: Bahnaric etymology

Rengao form: miʔ.T

Rengao meaning: mother

Sedang form: mie.L V?

Sedang meaning: parent's younger sibling

Didra: meʔ.T

References: GS-159

South Bahnaric etymology :

Proto-South Bahnaric: *me

Meaning: mother

Bahnaric etymology: Bahnaric etymology

Chrau form: mɛ:

Chrau meaning: mother

Stieng form: mej

Stieng meaning: uncles, aunts, mother

References: SBS-329

West Bahnaric etymology :

Proto-West- Bahnaric: *meʔ

Meaning: mother

Bahnaric etymology: Bahnaric etymology

Jaru form: mǝ: E?

Lavi: me:ʔ

Juk: be:ʔ.B I?

Nhaheung form: meʔ

Nhaheung meaning: mother

References: JS-316

Khmer etymology :

Khmer: mǝ:

Austro-Asiatic etymology: Austro-Asiatic etymology

Old Khmer: me, ʔǝme

Old Khmer Meaning: mother

References: P377

Viet-Muong etymology :

Proto-Viet-Muong: *meʔ

Meaning: mother

Austro-Asiatic etymology: Austro-Asiatic etymology

Vietnamese: mẹ

Vietnamese meaning: mother

Muong dialect: me.5 T??

Proto-Ruc: *mɛ.4

Ruc (Russian field rec.): meɛ.4

Ruc (Lo'i's rec.): meɛ.4

Ruc (Ferlus' rec.): meɛ.4

Ruc meaning: mother

Thavung-So: bǝ:.C.1

Thavung-So meaning: mother

Thavung: mǝ:.4

Notes: F-97: *me:ʔ

References: NTF65, NVL150; TC39

Monic etymology :

Proto-Monic: *m[ɛ/e]:ʔ

Meaning: mother

Presyllable: #

Austro-Asiatic etymology: Austro-Asiatic etymology

Modern Mon: mi

Middle Mon: mi

Nyakur meaning: mother

Nyakur (dial.): TP mɛ:ʔ.B

References: N157; S-292

Palaung-Wa etymology :

Proto-Palaung-Wa: *maʔ

Meaning: mother

Austro-Asiatic etymology: Austro-Asiatic etymology

Proto-Wa: *m[a]ʔ

Proto-Plang: *maʔ

Proto-De'ang: *meʔ

Riang: mâʔ.2

Riang meaning: mother

Wa etymology :

Proto-Wa:

Meaning: mother

Palaung-Wa etymology: Palaung-Wa etymology

Paraok: mɛʔ.B

Paraok meaning: mother

Wa: maʔ, baʔ

Wa meaning: mother

Ava: maʔ, mǝʔ

Lawa: maʔ

Lawa meaning: mother

Um: maʔ

Wa (dial.): maʔ.2

Wa (dial.) meaning: mother

References: D-105: *maʔ

Plang etymology :

Proto-Plang: *maʔ

Meaning: mother

Palaung-Wa etymology: Palaung-Wa etymology

Bulang: maʔ.2

Bulang meaning: mother

Konto: maʔ.2

Konto meaning: mother

Samtao (Paulsen): maʔ.2

Samtao (Paulsen) meaning: mother

Samtao (Diffloth): maʔ.2

Samtao (Diffloth) meaning: mother

References: P-194: *maʔ.2

De'ang etymology :

Proto-De'ang: *meʔ

Meaning: mother

Palaung-Wa etymology: Palaung-Wa etymology

De'ang: me:

De'ang-1: ma:

De'ang-2: ma:.1

Angku etymology :

Proto-Angku: *gau

Meaning: hear

Palaung-Wa etymology: Palaung-Wa etymology

Pangpin: kau.51

Shuangdiang: ʒ́iak.31 kau.33

Mang'an: kau.51

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