Where does “ama” come from?
Amah comes from Old Portuguese ama, from Latin mamma meaning mother or breast, ultimately from Ancient Greek μάμμᾰ with the same meaning.
ama (English): Alternative spelling of amah; A traditional...
Definitions
- Alternative spelling of amah; A traditional...
Ancestry of “ama”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | ama | female nurse; female housekeeper; governess |
| 2 | Old Portuguese | ama | mistress |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | amma | wet nurse, amma |
| 4 | Latin | mamma | a breast; an udder; a pap; a teat, a dug |
| 5 | Latin | ferō | — |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | ferō | carry, bear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |