마마

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈma̠(ː)ma̠]
• Phonetic hangul: [마(ː)마]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Sino-Korean word from 媽媽 (“mum”), for the sense "smallpox" compare Turkmen mama.

마마 • (mama) (hanja 媽媽)

1. (honorific) Your Highness, His Highness, Her Highness
2. (honorific) Madame for a concubine of an ancient high-ranking official
3. (honorific) goddess who is allegedly responsible for smallpox
4. smallpox, pockmark

(Majesty):

• 상감마마(上監媽媽) (sanggammama, “king”)
• 중전마마(中殿媽媽) (jungjeonmama, “queen”)
• 동궁마마(東宮媽媽) (donggungmama, “crowned prince”)

(smallpox):

• 별성마마(別星媽媽) (byeolseongmama, “smallpox”), originally the honorific for the goddess who is allegedly responsible for smallpox
• 손님마마(媽媽) (sonnimmama, “smallpox”, literally “guest the honorable”)
• 역신마마(疫神媽媽) (yeoksinmama, “crowned prince”), originally the honorific for the goddess who is allegedly responsible for smallpox

Appears to be a loanword from Russian мама (mama). Compare 빠빠 (ppappa).

마마 • (mama)

1. (Russia) mother, mum
   • 2015 February 12, 강 발렌지나 [gang ballenjina], “남편을 빌려준 여인 [nampyeoneul billyeojun yeoin]”, in 한국구비문학대계 [han'gukgubimunhakdaegye]‎^[1], 우즈베키스탄 타슈켄트 [ujeubekiseutan tasyukenteu]:

     그래 우리 마마 그 소냐를 욕했지.

     Geurae uri mama geu sonya-reul yokhaetji.

     So my mum cursed Sonya.