Where does “mamak” come from?

mamak (Malay) comes from Tamil மாமா, from Proto-Dravidian *māma — maternal or specific paternal (father's sister's husband) uncle.

mamak (Malay): a maternal uncle or elder brother; the male head of a household

Definitions

  1. a maternal uncle or elder brother; the male head of a household

Ancestry of “mamak”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilமாமாa term of address for any elder male acquaintance
2Proto-Dravidian*māmamaternal or specific paternal (father's sister's husband) uncle

Words derived from “mamak”

Every word from Proto-Dravidian *māma →Every word from Tamil மாமா →