mala

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mala"

Languages (48)

English

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English

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Latin māla (“the cheekbone, jaw”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪ.lə/
• Rhymes: -eɪlə

Noun

mala (plural malae)

1. (zootomy)
   1. A single lobe of an insect's maxilla.
   2. The grinding surface of an insect's mandible.
   3. The third segment of a mandible of some myriapods.

Related terms

• malar

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmæl.ə/

Noun

mala

1. plural of malum

Etymology 3

Transliteration of Sanskrit माला (mālā, “wreath, garland, crown”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑː.lɑː/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑl.ɑ/

Noun

mala (plural malas or mala)

1. (Hinduism, Sikhism) A bead or a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity.

   Synonym: japamala

   • 2021, Ruth Ozeki, The Book of Form and Emptiness, Canongate Books (2022), page 413:

     His words were like beads on the string of a mala, escaping his lips in small puffs of air.

Further reading

• Hindu prayer beads on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 4

From Western Desert Language, as Pitjantjatjara mala.

Noun

mala (plural malas)

1. A species of hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus, of arid Australia.

Etymology 5

Borrowed from Mandarin 麻辣 (málà)

Noun

mala (uncountable)

1. A seasoning made from Sichuan pepper and chilis.

References

• “mala”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “mala”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

See also

• mala fide (etymologically unrelated)

Anagrams

• amla, ALMA, alma, laam, lama, Amal, Alam, Alma, Lama, LAMA

Asturian

Adjective

mala

1. feminine singular of malu

Azerbaijani

Etymology

From Persian ماله.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

mala (definite accusative malanı, plural malalar)

1. stucco, plaster

   Synonym: suvaq

2. plasterer's/ mason's trowel

   Synonyms: kəmçə, malakeş

3. harrow

   Synonym: dırmıq

Declension

Declension of mala

	singular	plural
nominative	mala	malalar
definite accusative	malanı	malaları
dative	malaya	malalara
locative	malada	malalarda
ablative	maladan	malalardan
definite genitive	malanın	malaların

Possessive forms of mala

	nominative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	malam	malalarım
sənin (“your”)	malan	malaların
onun (“his/her/its”)	malası	malaları
bizim (“our”)	malamız	malalarımız
sizin (“your”)	malanız	malalarınız
onların (“their”)	malası or malaları	malaları
	accusative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	malamı	malalarımı
sənin (“your”)	malanı	malalarını
onun (“his/her/its”)	malasını	malalarını
bizim (“our”)	malamızı	malalarımızı
sizin (“your”)	malanızı	malalarınızı
onların (“their”)	malasını or malalarını	malalarını
	dative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	malama	malalarıma
sənin (“your”)	malana	malalarına
onun (“his/her/its”)	malasına	malalarına
bizim (“our”)	malamıza	malalarımıza
sizin (“your”)	malanıza	malalarınıza
onların (“their”)	malasına or malalarına	malalarına
	locative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	malamda	malalarımda
sənin (“your”)	malanda	malalarında
onun (“his/her/its”)	malasında	malalarında
bizim (“our”)	malamızda	malalarımızda
sizin (“your”)	malanızda	malalarınızda
onların (“their”)	malasında or malalarında	malalarında
	ablative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	malamdan	malalarımdan
sənin (“your”)	malandan	malalarından
onun (“his/her/its”)	malasından	malalarından
bizim (“our”)	malamızdan	malalarımızdan
sizin (“your”)	malanızdan	malalarınızdan
onların (“their”)	malasından or malalarından	malalarından
	genitive
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	malamın	malalarımın
sənin (“your”)	malanın	malalarının
onun (“his/her/its”)	malasının	malalarının
bizim (“our”)	malamızın	malalarımızın
sizin (“your”)	malanızın	malalarınızın
onların (“their”)	malasının or malalarının	malalarının

Derived terms

• malaçəkən
• malaçı
• malakeş
• malalamaq

Further reading

• “mala” in Obastan.com.

Breton

Etymology

From Middle Breton malaff, from Old Breton maletic, from Proto-Brythonic *malɨd, from Proto-Celtic *meleti.

Verb

mala

1. to grind

Catalan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˈma.lə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈma.la]

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old French male.

Noun

mala f (plural males)

1. mailbag

   Synonym: cartera del correu

Related terms

• maleta

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Adjective

mala f sg

1. feminine singular of mal

Cebuano

Alternative forms

• maa

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *maja, compare Bikol Central mara, Yogad maga and Tetum maran.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ma‧la
• IPA^(key): /maˈla/ [mɐˈl̪a]

Adjective

malá (Badlit spelling ᜋᜎ)

1. dry

   Synonym: uga

East Futuna

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *mala, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *malaŋ.

Noun

mala

1. disaster
2. misfortune

Esperanto

Etymology

mal- +‎ -a

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmala/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ala
• Hyphenation: ma‧la

Adjective

mala (accusative singular malan, plural malaj, accusative plural malajn)

1. opposite

Faroese

Etymology

From Old Norse mala, from Proto-Germanic *malaną.

Verb

mala (third person singular past indicative mól, third person plural past indicative mólu, supine malið)

1. to grind

Conjugation

Conjugation of mala (group v-58)

infinitive	mala
supine	malið
	present	past
first singular	mali	mól
second singular	melur	mól(st)
third singular	melur	mól
plural	mala	mólu
participle (a26)1	malandi	malin
	imperative
singular	mal!
plural	malið!

¹Only the past participle being declined.

Finnish

Etymology

From English mala, from Martu Wangka mala.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɑlɑ/, [ˈmɑ̝lɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ɑlɑ
• Syllabification^(key): ma‧la
• Hyphenation^(key): ma‧la

Noun

mala

1. hare-wallaby (wallaby of the genus Lagorchestes)
2. rufous hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus

Declension

Inflection of mala (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
nominative		mala	malat
genitive		malan	malojen
partitive		malaa	maloja
illative		malaan	maloihin
		singular	plural
nominative		mala	malat
accusative	nom.	mala	malat
	gen.	malan
genitive		malan	malojen malain rare
partitive		malaa	maloja
inessive		malassa	maloissa
elative		malasta	maloista
illative		malaan	maloihin
adessive		malalla	maloilla
ablative		malalta	maloilta
allative		malalle	maloille
essive		malana	maloina
translative		malaksi	maloiksi
abessive		malatta	maloitta
instructive		—	maloin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

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

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative malani malani accusative nom. malani malani gen. malani genitive malani malojeni malaini rare partitive malaani malojani inessive malassani maloissani elative malastani maloistani illative malaani maloihini adessive malallani maloillani ablative malaltani maloiltani allative malalleni maloilleni essive malanani maloinani translative malakseni maloikseni abessive malattani maloittani instructive — — comitative — maloineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative malasi malasi accusative nom. malasi malasi gen. malasi genitive malasi malojesi malaisi rare partitive malaasi malojasi inessive malassasi maloissasi elative malastasi maloistasi illative malaasi maloihisi adessive malallasi maloillasi ablative malaltasi maloiltasi allative malallesi maloillesi essive malanasi maloinasi translative malaksesi maloiksesi abessive malattasi maloittasi instructive — — comitative — maloinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative malamme malamme accusative nom. malamme malamme gen. malamme genitive malamme malojemme malaimme rare partitive malaamme malojamme inessive malassamme maloissamme elative malastamme maloistamme illative malaamme maloihimme adessive malallamme maloillamme ablative malaltamme maloiltamme allative malallemme maloillemme essive malanamme maloinamme translative malaksemme maloiksemme abessive malattamme maloittamme instructive — — comitative — maloinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative malanne malanne accusative nom. malanne malanne gen. malanne genitive malanne malojenne malainne rare partitive malaanne malojanne inessive malassanne maloissanne elative malastanne maloistanne illative malaanne maloihinne adessive malallanne maloillanne ablative malaltanne maloiltanne allative malallenne maloillenne essive malananne maloinanne translative malaksenne maloiksenne abessive malattanne maloittanne instructive — — comitative — maloinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative malansa malansa accusative nom. malansa malansa gen. malansa genitive malansa malojensa malainsa rare partitive malaansa malojaan malojansa inessive malassaan malassansa maloissaan maloissansa elative malastaan malastansa maloistaan maloistansa illative malaansa maloihinsa adessive malallaan malallansa maloillaan maloillansa ablative malaltaan malaltansa maloiltaan maloiltansa allative malalleen malallensa maloilleen maloillensa essive malanaan malanansa maloinaan maloinansa translative malakseen malaksensa maloikseen maloiksensa abessive malattaan malattansa maloittaan maloittansa instructive — — comitative — maloineen maloinensa

Synonyms

• (hare-wallaby): jäniskenguru (dated)
• (rufous hare-wallaby): lännenjäniskenguru (dated)

Derived terms

compounds

• harmaamala
• pikkumala
• ruskomala

Galician

Adjective

mala

1. feminine singular of malo

Garo

Verb

mala

1. to crawl

Hawaiian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈma.la/, [ˈmɐ.lə]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *mala, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *malaŋ.

Verb

mala

1. (intransitive) bruised
2. aching (as after unaccustomed exercise)
3. stiff and sore

Derived terms

• hoʻomala
• mamala

Etymology 2

From Proto-Polynesian *mara.

Verb

mala

1. (stative) sour (as fermented sweet potatoes)
2. (stative) insipid

References

• Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H. (1986), “mala”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse mala, from Proto-Germanic *malaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmaːla/
• Rhymes: -aːla

Verb

mala (weak verb, third-person singular past indicative malaði, supine malað)

1. to grind

   Synonyms: mylja, steyta

   Hættu að mala kornið!

   Stop grinding the corn!

2. to purr

   Oo, hlustiði á köttinn mala.

   Oh, listen to the cat purr.

3. to blabber, babble, talk

   Synonyms: babla, masa, þvæla, blaðra

   Hann hættir bara ekki að mala.

   He just won't stop babbling!

Conjugation

mala – active voice (germynd)

infinitive nafnháttur		að mala
supine sagnbót		malað
present participle lýsingarháttur nútíðar		malandi
		indicative framsöguháttur			subjunctive viðtengingarháttur
		present nútíð	past þátíð		present nútíð	past þátíð
singular	ég	mala	malaði		mali	malaði
	þú	malar	malaðir		malir	malaðir
	hann, hún, það	malar	malaði		mali	malaði
plural	við	mölum	möluðum		mölum	möluðum
	þið	malið	möluðuð		malið	möluðuð
	þeir, þær, þau	mala	möluðu		mali	möluðu
		imperative boðháttur
singular	þú	mala (þú), malaðu
plural	þið	malið (þið), maliði1

¹ Spoken form, usually not written; in writing, the unappended plural form (optionally followed by the full pronoun) is preferred.

malast – mediopassive voice (miðmynd)

infinitive nafnháttur		að malast
supine sagnbót		malast
present participle lýsingarháttur nútíðar		malandist (rare; see appendix)
		indicative framsöguháttur			subjunctive viðtengingarháttur
		present nútíð	past þátíð		present nútíð	past þátíð
singular	ég	malast	malaðist		malist	malaðist
	þú	malast	malaðist		malist	malaðist
	hann, hún, það	malast	malaðist		malist	malaðist
plural	við	mölumst	möluðumst		mölumst	möluðumst
	þið	malist	möluðust		malist	möluðust
	þeir, þær, þau	malast	möluðust		malist	möluðust
		imperative boðháttur
singular	þú	malast (þú), malastu
plural	þið	malist (þið), malisti1

¹ Spoken form, usually not written; in writing, the unappended plural form (optionally followed by the full pronoun) is preferred.

malaður — past participle (lýsingarháttur þátíðar)

strong declension (sterk beyging)	singular (eintala)			plural (fleirtala)
	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)
nominative (nefnifall)	malaður	möluð	malað	malaðir	malaðar	möluð
accusative (þolfall)	malaðan	malaða	malað	malaða	malaðar	möluð
dative (þágufall)	möluðum	malaðri	möluðu	möluðum	möluðum	möluðum
genitive (eignarfall)	malaðs	malaðrar	malaðs	malaðra	malaðra	malaðra
weak declension (veik beyging)	singular (eintala)			plural (fleirtala)
	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)	masculine (karlkyn)	feminine (kvenkyn)	neuter (hvorugkyn)
nominative (nefnifall)	malaði	malaða	malaða	möluðu	möluðu	möluðu
accusative (þolfall)	malaða	möluðu	malaða	möluðu	möluðu	möluðu
dative (þágufall)	malaða	möluðu	malaða	möluðu	möluðu	möluðu
genitive (eignarfall)	malaða	möluðu	malaða	möluðu	möluðu	möluðu

Derived terms

• mölun
• mal

Ido

Adjective

mala

1. bad

Antonyms

• bona

Derived terms

• maleso

Indonesian

Etymology

From Malay mala, from Classical Malay mala, from Pali mala, from Sanskrit मल (mala).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [mala]
• Hyphenation: ma‧la

Adjective

mala

1. (obsolete) dirty, impurity
2. (dated) withered, faded

   Synonyms: layu, merana

Noun

mala

1. (dated) disease

   Synonym: penyakit

2. (dated, poetic or formal) disaster

   Synonyms: bahala, bahaya, bencana, cobaan, dakiat, keapesan, kecelakaan, kegagalan, kemaharan, kemalangan, kemudaratan, kerugian, kesialan, malapetaka, mara

Further reading

• “mala” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.