Etymology

Unknown. First attested in the Edo period in the Kantō region, and until relatively recently use was confined to this area. Most likely theories of origin suggest:

• a contraction of 女の子 ‎(menoko, “female child”)
• an alteration of 真処 ‎(mako, “center (of the body)”)
• a shortening of 万幸 ‎(mankō, “10,000 happinesses”)
• an alteration of the Old Japanese 美斗 ‎(mito, “genitalia in general, either male or female”)
• a derivation from the Sinitic 門口 ‎(“gate, doorway”), from a reading of menkō rather than the expected on'yomi of monkō

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [mã̠ŋko̞]