Meaning of ma

n. short for the vocative of máma, ‘mother’.

see mala.

n. 1. onomatopoetic word for the lowing sound of a cow or a water buffalo; 2. a cow or water buffalo (child’s talk); v. low, produce a lowing sound.

future verb affix. (Past: na-. Subjunctive: ma-.) 1. potential of the direct passive. (See -un for meanings of the direct passive. See maka- for meanings of the potential.) Mapalit nà nímu bísag ása, You can buy that anywhere. Wà ku pa mabása, I haven’t had a chance to read it. Uy! Dì man diay ákù ning nadá nákung pitáka, Heavens, I took someone else’s purse by mistake; 2. potential of the instrumental passive. (See i- for meanings of the instrumental passive.) Dì ni mabaligyà kay mahal da kaáyu ang prisyu, You can’t sell this because it’s too expensive. Wà pa nákù mahátag níya kay wà pa siya muabut, I haven’t had a chance to give it to him because he hasn’t arrived. Halá! Nabungat ra ba nákù ang sikrítu, Oh God! I let out the secret; 3. active of stative verbs: may become (so-and-so). Ayaw nag hikápa. Magubà unyà nà, Don’t touch that. It might break. Ilhan nga mulubad nang panaptúna ug mapula ang túbig, You’ll know the cloth runs if the water turns red. Nawálà ang ákung singsing, My ring got lost; 3a. with roots that refer to nonvolitional actions: (do). Matingála siya ug ngánu tu, He will be amazed at why it should be so. Wà ku mabaláka, I am not worried. Mahū́g unyà ka ug mabálì ang sanga, You will fall if the branch breaks. Ug matúlug na sila, When they are asleep. Mahadluk ku, I am afraid. Dì ka ba malúuy níya? Don’t you feel sorry for him? 3b. with nouns: become (so-and-so). Ug maduktur ka na, When you get to be a doctor; 3c. with nouns which refer to a place: wind up in (such-and-such) a place. Malangit kag maimpirnu ba? Will you go to heaven or will you go to hell? Mauspital giyud kag pasagdan lang nà nímung sakíta, You’ll end up in the hospital if you let your sickness go. 3d. with nouns referring to time: get to be (such-and-such) a time. Ug maalas tris na gánì, mulakaw na ku, If it gets to be three o’clock, I’ll leave. Ug magabíi nag wà pa siya, If it gets to be nightfall and he hasn’t arrived; 3e. (only with the future) when (such-and-such) a time or season comes about. Magkítà ra silag mapista, They only see each other during fiestas. Tábù dinhi ug maduminggu, They hold market here on Sundays.

1. affix added to most adjective roots which do not refer to a measurement to form adjectives which mean ‘very (so-and-so)’. This formation is used in literary or formal styles. Usa ka mapait nga pahíyum, A very bitter smile; 2. added to some verbs to form adjectives meaning (do)ing, usually with a short penult. Bátang mahilak, A crybaby. Matulug, Of a sleepy sort. Matawa, Full of laughter.