ma

ma — noun

1. an informal word for mother, used when speaking to your own mother or referring

1.名詞A1
釋義

an informal word for mother, used when speaking to your own mother or referring to her in a family setting

例句

Ma, can you help me tie my shoelaces?

direct address: 'Ma' used as a call

I told Ma I would be home before nine o'clock.

同義詞
  • mom

    most common in American and Canadian English

  • mum

    most common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English

  • mother

    formal; used in writing or polite contexts

反義詞
  • dad

    the informal word for father

文法句型

possessive + ma

direct address: Ma + sentence

用法筆記

Used as a direct address ('Ma, please wait') or with a possessive determiner ('my ma', 'his ma'). More common in spoken English than in writing. 'Mom' is the dominant form in North America; 'mum' is preferred in Britain and Australia.

常見錯誤

❌Ma is a formal way to address a mother.
✅Ma is an informal way to address a mother.
💡'Ma' is casual and used within the family, not in formal situations.

2. a title placed before an older woman's surname as a respectful but informal way

2.名詞B2
釋義

a title placed before an older woman's surname as a respectful but informal way for a community to address her

例句

Old Ma Jenkins used to babysit half the children on the street.

title + surname pattern: 'Ma [Surname]'

Everyone called her Ma Patterson because she fed the stray cats.

同義詞
  • Granny

    used similarly as a friendly title for an older woman, but not typically placed before a surname

文法句型

Ma + [surname]

用法筆記

Always followed by a surname (e.g., Ma Higgins, Ma Patterson). Frequently preceded by 'Old' (Old Ma Jenkins). This title is characteristic of rural or small-town American English and is becoming less common in modern usage.

常見錯誤

❌Ma Jenny' (using a first name).
✅Ma Jenkins' (using a surname).
💡'Ma' as a title is always used with a surname, not a given name.

3. a graduate degree in the humanities or social sciences, commonly written as MA a

3.名詞B2
釋義

a graduate degree in the humanities or social sciences, commonly written as MA after a person's name or in academic records

例句

Eri earned her MA in History from the University of Edinburgh.

MA in [subject] + from [university]

Darius is studying for an MA in English literature.

同義詞
反義詞
  • BA

    Bachelor of Arts — the undergraduate degree earned before an MA

  • PhD

    Doctor of Philosophy — a terminal research degree above an MA

文法句型

MA in [subject]

an MA degree

[name], MA

用法筆記

Always capitalised as MA. The indefinite article before it is 'an' because MA begins with a vowel sound ('em-ay'). Can be used after a person's name as a title (e.g., Jane Smith, MA).

常見錯誤

❌She has a MA in Economics.
✅She has an MA in Economics.
💡'MA' is pronounced 'em-ay', which starts with a vowel sound, so the correct article is 'an'.

4. the two-letter code MA that stands for the state of Massachusetts in US postal a

4.名詞B1
釋義

the two-letter code MA that stands for the state of Massachusetts in US postal addresses, placed right after the city name

例句

Please send the signed documents to Boston, MA 02108 as soon as possible.

postal address format: 'City, MA [ZIP]'

The company headquarters is in Cambridge, MA, near Harvard Square.

文法句型

[city], MA [ZIP code]

用法筆記

Used only in addresses and on envelopes. In general writing, spell out 'Massachusetts' or use the two-letter postal code MA. Always capitalised.

常見錯誤

❌She lives in MA.' (in conversation)
✅She lives in Massachusetts.
💡The abbreviation is for addresses and forms, not for spoken or written prose.

ma — abbreviation

ma — idiom