Pronunciation: [mətˈɜːnə͡l] (IPA) 
The term "maternal" refers to the characteristics or qualities related to motherhood. The term is spelled with an "m" at the beginning, followed by the vowel "a" and a syllable break ("ter") followed by another vowel "na". The third syllable includes the letter "l" which is followed by a vowel "e". The word ends with the consonant sound "l". In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is represented as /məˈtɜːrnəl/.
Maternal is an adjective that pertains to, relates to, or is connected with a mother. It specifically refers to the characteristics, traits, or behaviors associated with motherhood. Maternal is derived from the Latin word "mater" meaning mother, and it encapsulates the qualities that are typically attributed to mothers, such as love, care, protection, and nurturing.
When used to describe a person's behavior or attitude, maternal signifies kindness, warmth, and a sense of responsibility towards others, especially towards children. A person who is maternal is often seen as considerate, compassionate, and concerned for the welfare of others, particularly in a nurturing or parental manner.
In a biological context, the term maternal is used to describe anything that is related to the mother or originates from the mother. This can include maternal instincts, maternal instincts, maternal instincts, maternal bonds, or maternal health.
Furthermore, maternal can also pertain to qualities or characteristics inherited or obtained from one's mother. For instance, someone may possess maternal traits such as physical resemblance, personality traits, or even specific talents or skills that have been passed down from their mother.
In summary, the term maternal refers to the qualities, traits, or behaviors associated with motherhood. It encompasses the aspects of love, care, protection, and nurturing that are typically exhibited by mothers.
Relating to or derived from the mother.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Pert. to a mother; befitting a mother; motherly.
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 maternal originates from the Latin word maternalis, which is derived from mater meaning mother. It was then adapted into Old French as maternel before entering the English language as maternal.
