Arabic

Pronoun

مَا • ‎(mā) m

1. (interrogative) what?
2. (indefinite) some, a certain
3. (relative) that which, what
4. (relative) something which
5. (indefinite relative) whatever, all that

Usage notes

• As an interrogative pronoun, generally the simple form ما is used only in nominal sentences, while the extended form ماذا is used in verbal sentences:

ما رأيك في هذه المسألة؟‎

Mā raʾyuka fī hāḏihi l-masʾalah?

What is your opinion on this issue?

ماذا تفكر في هذه المسألة؟‎

Māḏā tufakkiru fī hāḏihi l-masʾalah?

What do you think about this issue?

Particle

مَا • ‎(mā)

1. not

Conjunction

مَا • ‎(mā)

1. as long as

Adverb

مَا • ‎(mā)

1. whenever
2. as far as, to the extent that, to the degree that
3. (with an elative in the accusative) (oh) how...!

   ما أجمل الحياة!‎

   Mā ʾajmala l-ḥayāh!

   How beautiful life is!

Usage notes

• (oh how): The above accusative construction is called تعجب ‎(taʿajjub, “amazement”) in Arabic. According to traditional grammar, if a nominative were used in the example above (mā ʾajmalu l-ḥayāh), it would turn into a question meaning: “What is the most beautiful kind of life?” Like all case distinctions in modern standard Arabic, of course, this distinction is not strictly followed and the difference may be lost on a majority of native speakers.

Persian

Etymology

From Middle Persian 𐭫𐭭𐭤 ‎(amāh, “we, us”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɒː/

Pronoun

ما • ‎(mâ)

1. we
2. (generally with following را) us
3. (at end of an ezafe) our

Interjection

ما • ‎(mâ)

1. sound of a cow, moo