‖Mma-, prefix

/ˈ(ə)mma/
Origin:
Sotho, SetswanaShow more Sotho and Setswana.
Among Sotho and Tswana peoples, used as a woman’s title, usually indicating respect or affection: a. ‘Mother of’, prefixed to the first name of one of the woman’s children, especially of her first-born son. b. ‘Mrs’, ‘Mother’, or ‘Ma’, prefixed to the woman’s surname, clan name, or (occasionally) nick-name or husband’s title. Cf. Ma- prefix1, Mama sense 1 a, Mme.
1961 M.A. Wall Dominee & Dom-Pas 48‘No, Mma-moruti,’ replied one of the old women. ‘We have been lucky, we are glad.’
1980 B. Leshoai in M. Mutloatse Forced Landing 129Ou Breench was brought up by his grandmother, MmaSelala. He loved her fondly.
1984 Staffrider Vol.6 No.1, 37One day when I was busy selling, one man I was acquainted with shouted at me and said, ‘Mma-Josefa, why do you stand there selling apples in the street when on the other hand Joseph is busy working to support you and the children?’
1987 Learn & Teach No.2, 1Both Mma Diniso and Oom Jantjie had lived in Sharpeville for many years. Mma Diniso started talking first.
1988 N. Sebolao in Drum Apr. 80For a woman who obtained her JC Certificate through correspondence, 47 year-old Mrs Nora Mmankudu Glickman, better known as Mma-Mopipi, has not done too badly for herself as an enterprising businesswoman.
1990 [see moruti].
‘Mother of’, prefixed to the first name of one of the woman’s children, especially of her first-born son.
‘Mrs’, ‘Mother’, or ‘Ma’, prefixed to the woman’s surname, clan name, or (occasionally) nick-name or husband’s title.
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Sesotho and Sesotho sa Leboa
Setswana
mlungu, umlungu, nounn. & adjectiveadj.Mme, nounn.
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