Pronunciation: [mˈɑː] (IPA) 
The word "ma" is spelled with two letters: m and a. The phonetic transcription for "ma" is /mɑː/. The letter "m" represents a voiced bilabial nasal sound, which is created by closing the lips together and allowing air to pass through the nostrils. The letter "a" represents a long open vowel sound, which is made by opening and lowering the mouth. "Ma" is commonly used as a term of affection for a mother or a female parental figure.
Ma is a noun that can have multiple meanings depending on the context. In Chinese culture, "ma" is an honorific term used to address one's mother, expressing respect and affection. It is often used as a familiar term of endearment. For example, a child might refer to their mother as "ma" or "mama."
In the field of music, "ma" refers to a term used in musical notation to denote a pause or a resting point. It signifies a brief moment of silence or a break in the melody, allowing the listener to take a breath and reflect.
In formal English grammar, "ma" is an abbreviation for the word "comma." It is used to indicate the need for a punctuation mark that creates a brief pause or separation between words, phrases, or clauses within a sentence.
Additionally, "ma" is the toneless pinyin romanization of the Chinese character "麻" (má), which can have various meanings depending on the context. It can refer to the sesame plant or its seeds, a numbing sensation, or a slang term for the drug marijuana.
In New Zealand and Australian slang, "ma" is a colloquial abbreviation for "mother." It is commonly used in informal speech and writing among friends or family members.
Overall, the definition of "ma" can vary across languages and contexts, encompassing meanings such as mother, a musical pause, a punctuation mark, a Chinese character, or a slang term for mother.
Abbreviation for milliampere.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Mother-a contracted form of mamma, child's name for mother.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "ma" has various meanings and origins in different languages. Here are a few possible etymologies for the word "ma" as it relates to different contexts:
1. "Ma" as a term for mother:
- In English, "ma" is an informal or dialectal form used to refer to one's mother. It is a shortened version of the word "mama" or "mamma". These forms are thought to have derived from the child's natural vocalizations when learning to speak.
- In many other languages, similar variations of "ma" or "mama" are used to denote mother, influenced by the universality of the m- and a- sounds produced by infants in their early development.
2. "Ma" as a musical term:
- In Western music, "ma" comes from Italian and means "but".
