maca

See also: Appendix:Variations of "maca"

Languages (23)

English

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Afar • Albanian • Arabela • Catalan • Central Nahuatl • Classical Nahuatl • Cubeo • Drehu • Finnish • Hungarian • Irish • Javanese • Old English • Old Sundanese • Paiwan • Polish • Portuguese • Romanian • Rukai • Serbo-Croatian • Spanish • Taíno

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Page categories

English

maca roots

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish maca, from Quechua maqa.

Noun

maca (countable and uncountable, plural macas)

1. Any member of the species Lepidium meyenii, an Andean medicinal herb, or an extract of the root of this plant.

   Synonym: Peruvian ginseng

   • 2009, M. Hermann, T. Bernet, The transition of maca from neglect to market prominence, page 18:

     The overwhelming majority of maca roots are dried after harvest. In the cold, dry atmosphere of the puna the dried roots remain edible for several years. A minor proportion of the freshly harvested roots are roasted in huatias, earthen ovens […]

   • 2007 March 18, G. Pascal Zachary, “Is the Key to Creativity in Your Pillbox, or in Your PC?”, in The New York Times‎^[2], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 April 2024:

     The gap between what the Internet promises and what it delivers is part of the reason that people […] continue to turn to enhancers from caffeine to maca to virtual reality.

   • 2014, T. K. Lim, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants, volume 9, page 802:

     Dried macas are cooked in water or milk and used to prepare a kind of sweet and aromatic porridge, mazamorra. The small macas are preferred, since they are less fibrous.

Translations

herb; extract

• Chinese:

  Cantonese: ^{(please verify)} 瑪卡 / 玛卡

  Mandarin: 瑪卡 / 玛卡 (mǎkǎ)

• Finnish: maca (fi)
• German: Maca f
• Polish: maka (pl) f or n
• Spanish: maca (es) f

Further reading

• Lepidium meyenii on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• AACM, ACMA, AMAC, Cama, MCAA, cama

Afar

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maˈħa/ [mʌˈħʌ]
• Hyphenation: ma‧ca

Pronoun

macá

1. what? (inanimate)

Related terms

• má (“what kind of?”)

References

• E. M. Parker; R. J. Hayward (1985), “maca”, in An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN
• Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015), L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)‎^[3], Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis)

Albanian

Noun

maca

1. inflection of macë:
   1. indefinite nominative/accusative plural
   2. definite nominative singular

Arabela

Noun

maca (plural macaca)

1. stick

Catalan

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [ˈma.kə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia, Northwestern) [ˈma.ka]

Adjective

maca

1. feminine singular of maco

Etymology 2

Verb

maca

1. inflection of macar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Central Nahuatl

Verb

maca

1. To give.

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

From Proto-Nahuan *maka (“to give”), from Proto-Uto-Aztecan *makaC (“to give”).

Verb

maca

1. to give

Cubeo

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bãˈka/

Noun

maca

1. excrement, poop, fecal matter.

See also

• cʉra

References

• N. L. Morse; J. K. Salser; N. de Salser (1999), "maca", in Diccionario ilustrado bilingüe: cubeo-español, espanõl-cubeo, →ISBN
• N. L. Morse; M. B. Maxwell (1999), Cubeo Grammar: Studies in the languages of Colombia 5, Summer Institute of Linguistics, →ISBN

Drehu

Noun

maca

1. right (direction)

References

• Tryon, Darrell T. (1967), “maca”, in Dehu-English dictionary (Pacific Linguistics; C–6)‎^[4], Canberra, ACT: Pacific Linguistics, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, page 78

Further reading

• Tryon, D. T.; Hackman, B. D. (1983), Solomon Islands languages: An internal classification (Pacific Linguistics; C-72)‎^[5], Canberra, ACT: Pacific Linguistics, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University
• Leenhardt, Maurice (1946), Langues et dialectes de l'Austro-Mélanésie [Languages ​​and dialects of Austro-Melanesia] (Travaux et mémoires de l'Institut d'ethnologie; XLVI) (in French), Paris: Institut d'ethnologie

Finnish

Etymology

From Spanish maca, from Quechua maqa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɑkɑ/, [ˈmɑ̝kɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ɑkɑ

Noun

maca

1. maca, Peruvian ginseng, Lepidium meyenii

Declension

Inflection of maca (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
nominative		maca	macat
genitive		macan	macojen
partitive		macaa	macoja
illative		macaan	macoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		maca	macat
accusative	nom.	maca	macat
	gen.	macan
genitive		macan	macojen macain rare
partitive		macaa	macoja
inessive		macassa	macoissa
elative		macasta	macoista
illative		macaan	macoihin
adessive		macalla	macoilla
ablative		macalta	macoilta
allative		macalle	macoille
essive		macana	macoina
translative		macaksi	macoiksi
abessive		macatta	macoitta
instructive		—	macoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of maca (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative macani macani accusative nom. macani macani gen. macani genitive macani macojeni macaini rare partitive macaani macojani inessive macassani macoissani elative macastani macoistani illative macaani macoihini adessive macallani macoillani ablative macaltani macoiltani allative macalleni macoilleni essive macanani macoinani translative macakseni macoikseni abessive macattani macoittani instructive — — comitative — macoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative macasi macasi accusative nom. macasi macasi gen. macasi genitive macasi macojesi macaisi rare partitive macaasi macojasi inessive macassasi macoissasi elative macastasi macoistasi illative macaasi macoihisi adessive macallasi macoillasi ablative macaltasi macoiltasi allative macallesi macoillesi essive macanasi macoinasi translative macaksesi macoiksesi abessive macattasi macoittasi instructive — — comitative — macoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative macamme macamme accusative nom. macamme macamme gen. macamme genitive macamme macojemme macaimme rare partitive macaamme macojamme inessive macassamme macoissamme elative macastamme macoistamme illative macaamme macoihimme adessive macallamme macoillamme ablative macaltamme macoiltamme allative macallemme macoillemme essive macanamme macoinamme translative macaksemme macoiksemme abessive macattamme macoittamme instructive — — comitative — macoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative macanne macanne accusative nom. macanne macanne gen. macanne genitive macanne macojenne macainne rare partitive macaanne macojanne inessive macassanne macoissanne elative macastanne macoistanne illative macaanne macoihinne adessive macallanne macoillanne ablative macaltanne macoiltanne allative macallenne macoillenne essive macananne macoinanne translative macaksenne macoiksenne abessive macattanne macoittanne instructive — — comitative — macoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative macansa macansa accusative nom. macansa macansa gen. macansa genitive macansa macojensa macainsa rare partitive macaansa macojaan macojansa inessive macassaan macassansa macoissaan macoissansa elative macastaan macastansa macoistaan macoistansa illative macaansa macoihinsa adessive macallaan macallansa macoillaan macoillansa ablative macaltaan macaltansa macoiltaan macoiltansa allative macalleen macallensa macoilleen macoillensa essive macanaan macanansa macoinaan macoinansa translative macakseen macaksensa macoikseen macoiksensa abessive macattaan macattansa macoittaan macoittansa instructive — — comitative — macoineen macoinensa

Hungarian

Etymology

From Maca, a diminutive of the female given names Margit or Mária. First attested in 1647.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈmɒt͡sɒ]
• Hyphenation: ma‧ca
• Rhymes: -t͡sɒ

Noun

maca (plural macák)

1. (dialectal or slang, derogatory) female lover (of a man)

   Synonym: szerető

2. (slang, derogatory) woman

   Synonym: nő

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)

	singular	plural
nominative	maca	macák
accusative	macát	macákat
dative	macának	macáknak
instrumental	macával	macákkal
causal-final	macáért	macákért
translative	macává	macákká
terminative	macáig	macákig
essive-formal	macaként	macákként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	macában	macákban
superessive	macán	macákon
adessive	macánál	macáknál
illative	macába	macákba
sublative	macára	macákra
allative	macához	macákhoz
elative	macából	macákból
delative	macáról	macákról
ablative	macától	macáktól
non-attributive possessive – singular	macáé	macáké
non-attributive possessive – plural	macáéi	macákéi

Possessive forms of maca

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	macám	macáim
2nd person sing.	macád	macáid
3rd person sing.	macája	macái
1st person plural	macánk	macáink
2nd person plural	macátok	macáitok
3rd person plural	macájuk	macáik

Further reading

• maca in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
• maca and (with subscription) maca  in Ferenc Pusztai, editor, Magyar értelmező kéziszótár [A Concise Explanatory Dictionary of Hungarian] (ÉKsz.²), 2nd, expanded and revised edition, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2003 (online searchable version under development).
• Judit Takács (2007), “Egy személynév köznevesülése: a Maca és konnotációja”, in Magyar Nyelvjárások (in Hungarian), number 45, Debreceni Egyetem Magyar Nyelvtudományi Tanszék, pages 63–71

Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmˠakə/

Noun

maca

1. vocative plural of mac

Mutation

Mutated forms of maca

radical	lenition	eclipsis
maca	mhaca	not applicable

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Javanese

Romanization

maca

1. (Indonesian) romanization of ꦩꦕ

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɑ.kɑ/

Verb

maca

1. singular imperative of macian

Old Sundanese

Etymology 1

From N- +‎ baca.

Verb

maca

1. to read

   Aiṅ hantĕ bisa maca suratiṅ ja na mohita

   I cannot read these letters of mine for I am foolish

Descendants

• > Sundanese: maca

Etymology 2

From Sanskrit मत्स्य (matsya, “fish”), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mátsyas. Cognate with Old Javanese matsya.

Noun

maca

1. fish
   • c. 1518, Sanghyang Siksakandang Karesian (Kropak 630), folio 8, recto:

     "Lamun hayaṅ ñaho di talaga heraṅ bañu atis ma maca taña."

     If one wish to know about a clear lake or cold water, one should ask a fish.

Paiwan

Alternative forms

• matsa

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Austronesian *maCa.

Noun

maca

1. (anatomy) eye

Polish

maca

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈma.t͡sa/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -at͡sa
• Syllabification: ma‧ca
• Homophone: Maca

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Yiddish מצה (matse).

Noun

maca f (related adjective macowy)

1. (uncountable, Judaism) matzo (thin, unleavened bread)

   Synonym: przaśnik

2. (countable, Judaism) matzo (piece of such bread)

   Synonym: przaśnik

Declension

Declension of maca

	singular	plural
nominative	maca	mace
genitive	macy	mac
dative	macy	macom
accusative	macę	mace
instrumental	macą	macami
locative	macy	macach
vocative	maco	mace

Etymology 2

Inherited from Old Polish maca / meca. Compare German Metze.

Noun

maca f

1. (obsolete) dry measure of grain

   Synonym: garniec

Declension

Declension of maca

	singular	plural
nominative	maca	mace
genitive	macy	mac
dative	macy	macom
accusative	macę	mace
instrumental	macą	macami
locative	macy	macach
vocative	maco	mace

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

maca

1. third-person singular present of macać

Further reading

• “maca”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[6] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “maca”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[7] (in Polish)
• maca in PWN's encyclopedia
• Brückner, Aleksander (1927), “maca”, in Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego [Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language] (in Polish), Warsaw: Wiedza Powszechna

Portuguese

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Arawak *maka

Proto-Ta-Arawak *hamaka

Taíno *hamakader.

Spanish hamacabor.

Portuguese maca

Borrowed from Spanish hamaca.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈma.kɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈma.kɐ/

• Rhymes: -akɐ

Noun

maca f (plural macas)

1. stretcher (simple litter designed to carry a sick, injured or dead person)
2. gurney (wheeled bed used in hospitals)
3. sailor’s hammock

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Kimbundu maka (“conversation, word”).

Alternative forms

• maka

Noun

maca f (plural macas)

1. (Angola) problem

   Não há maca.

   No problem.

2. (Angola) argument, fuss

References

• “maca”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “maca”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Romanian

Etymology

Etymology tree

French macaobor.

Portuguese macaubor.

Italian macaobor.

Romanian maca

Borrowed from French macao or Italian macao.

Noun

maca f (uncountable)

1. Mau Mau (card game)

Declension

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

Please edit the entry and supply |def= and |pl= parameters to the {{ro-noun-f}} template.

Rukai

Etymology

From Proto-Rukai *maca, from Proto-Austronesian *maCa.

Noun

maca

1. (anatomy, Budai) eye

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *maca.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mǎːt͡sa/
• Hyphenation: ma‧ca

Noun

máca f (Cyrillic spelling ма́ца)

1. (hypocoristic) cat, kitty

   Synonym: mačka

Declension

Declension of maca

	singular	plural
nominative	maca	mace
genitive	mace	maca
dative	maci	macama
accusative	macu	mace
vocative	maco	mace
locative	maci	macama
instrumental	macom	macama

References

• “maca”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmaka/ [ˈma.ka]

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aka
• Syllabification: ma‧ca

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Quechua maqa.

Noun

maca f (plural macas)

1. maca (Andean herb)

Etymology 2

Adjective

maca f

1. feminine singular of maco

Etymology 3

Verb

maca

1. inflection of macar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

• “maca”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), 24th edition, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 30 October 2026

Taíno

Noun

maca

1. tree

References

• Taino Vocabulary in the Dominican Republic