Where does “மா” come from?

மா (Tamil) comes from Old Tamil 𑀫𑀸, from Sanskrit महा, from Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰā́, from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́, from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂s — big, great.

மா (Tamil): animal, beast; horse; elephant

Definitions

  1. animal, beast; horse; elephant

Ancestry of “மா”, step by step

மா traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Tamil 𑀫𑀸

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Tamil𑀫𑀸big
2Sanskritमहाcombining form of महत्; buffalo; great, large,...
3Proto-Indo-Aryanmaźʰā́
4Proto-Indo-Iranianmaȷ́ʰā́big, great
5Proto-Indo-Europeanméǵh₂sbig, great

via Sanskrit मा

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritमाdon't; accusative singular of अहम्; to sound,...
2Proto-IranianmáH
3Proto-Indo-IranianmaHdo not; prohibitive particle
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₁prohibitive particle

via Tamil அம்மா

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tamilஅம்மாmother
2Proto-Dravidianammamother

Words derived from “மா

Every word from Proto-Indo-European méǵh₂sEvery word from Proto-Indo-Iranian maȷ́ʰā́Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan maźʰā́