Yaya - Wiktionary

See also: Appendix:Variations of "yaya"

English

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Etymology 1

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From Tagalog yaya, from Philippine Spanish yaya.

Noun

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yaya (plural yayas)

1. (Philippines, Hong Kong) A nanny; female caregiver; nursemaid
   • 2020 June 3, William Meny, “Witches” (4:25 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎[1], season 2, episode 9, spoken by Nadja (Natasia Demetriou):“Can you not make this carriage move faster? You're moving slower than when my yaya tried to ride a snail to the next village.”

Etymology 2

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Unknown.

Pronunciation

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• (Singapore) IPA(key): /ˈjɑjɑ/

Verb

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yaya (invariable)

1. (Singlish) To show off or behave in an egocentric or self-important manner. Synonyms: flex, preen, swagger; see also Thesaurus:show off

Adjective

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yaya (comparative more yaya, superlative most yaya)

1. (Singlish) Arrogant, stuck-up.

Derived terms

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• yaya papaya

References

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• Lee, Jack Tsen-Ta (2004), “yaya”, in A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English

Aguaruna

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Noun

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yaya

1. star

Cebuano

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Etymology 1

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Unknown.

Pronunciation

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• Hyphenation: ya‧ya
• IPA(key): /ˈjaʔjaʔ/ [ˈjaʔ.jɐʔ]

Adjective

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yaya

1. slow
2. clumsy
3. stretched out

Etymology 2

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Borrowed from Spanish yaya (“granny”). Compare Catalan iaia.

Pronunciation

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• Hyphenation: ya‧ya
• IPA(key): /ˈjaja/ [ˈja.jɐ]

Noun

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yaya

1. (sometimes derogatory) a nanny
   • 2013 — Barrita, Eddie O., Minimum Wage sa mga Katabang sa Panimalay (30 January), Tipik sa Balaod, SuperBalita, Cebu Mokabat sa tulo ka mil­yon ka mga “kasambahay” ang nakapahimulos ning maong balaod kay naglatid kini sa ilang minimum wage. Ang kasambahay Tinagalog sa katabang sa panimalay, maid o mga binatonan. Naglakip kini sa tanang mga katabang sa panimalay sama sa yaya, kusinera, hardinero ug labandera. (Sec. 4 (d), R.A. 10361).(please add an English translation of this quotation)
2. an address to one's nanny

Verb

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yaya

1. to work or act as a nanny

Etymology 3

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Unknown.

Noun

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yaya

1. a tree, Gonocaryum calleryanum

Central Bikol

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Pronunciation

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• Hyphenation: ya‧ya
• IPA(key): /ˈjaja/ [ˈja.ja]

Noun

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yaya

1. a weak feeling in the limbs

Derived terms

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• mayaya

Choctaw

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Verb

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yaya

1. to cry

Ibanag

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Pronoun

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yaya

1. he; she

Japanese

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Romanization

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yaya

1. Rōmaji transcription of やや

Manchu

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Romanization

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yaya

1. romanization of ᠶᠠᠶᠠ

Masbatenyo

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Noun

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yaya

1. nursemaid; babysitter

Nupe

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Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /jà.já/

Noun

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yàyá

1. senior
2. elder cousin

Old Javanese

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Conjunction

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yaya

1. as if

Quechua

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Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /ˈja.ja/

Noun

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yaya

1. father Synonyms: tayta, tata Coordinate term: mama (“mother”)
2. chief, elder
3. priest
4. (archaic) God

Declension

[edit] Declension of yaya

singular	plural
nominative	yaya	yayakuna
accusative	yayata	yayakunata
dative	yayaman	yayakunaman
genitive	yayap	yayakunap
locative	yayapi	yayakunapi
terminative	yayakama	yayakunakama
ablative	yayamanta	yayakunamanta
instrumental	yayawan	yayakunawan
comitative	yayantin	yayakunantin
abessive	yayannaq	yayakunannaq
comparative	yayahina	yayakunahina
causative	yayarayku	yayakunarayku
benefactive	yayapaq	yayakunapaq
associative	yayapura	yayakunapura
distributive	yayanka	yayakunanka
exclusive	yayalla	yayakunalla

Possessive forms of yaya

ñuqap - first-person singular ñuqap (my) singular plural nominative yayay yayaykuna accusative yayayta yayaykunata dative yayayman yayaykunaman genitive yayaypa yayaykunap locative yayaypi yayaykunapi terminative yayaykama yayaykunakama ablative yayaymanta yayaykunamanta instrumental yayaywan yayaykunawan comitative yayaynintin yayaykunantin abessive yayayninnaq yayaykunannaq comparative yayayhina yayaykunahina causative yayayrayku yayaykunarayku benefactive yayaypaq yayaykunapaq associative yayaypura yayaykunapura distributive yayayninka yayaykunanka exclusive yayaylla yayaykunalla qampa - second-person singular qampa (your) singular plural nominative yayayki yayaykikuna accusative yayaykita yayaykikunata dative yayaykiman yayaykikunaman genitive yayaykipa yayaykikunap locative yayaykipi yayaykikunapi terminative yayaykikama yayaykikunakama ablative yayaykimanta yayaykikunamanta instrumental yayaykiwan yayaykikunawan comitative yayaykintin yayaykikunantin abessive yayaykinnaq yayaykikunannaq comparative yayaykihina yayaykikunahina causative yayaykirayku yayaykikunarayku benefactive yayaykipaq yayaykikunapaq associative yayaykipura yayaykikunapura distributive yayaykinka yayaykikunanka exclusive yayaykilla yayaykikunalla paypa - third-person singular paypa (his/her/its) singular plural nominative yayan yayankuna accusative yayanta yayankunata dative yayanman yayankunaman genitive yayanpa yayankunap locative yayanpi yayankunapi terminative yayankama yayankunakama ablative yayanmanta yayankunamanta instrumental yayanwan yayankunawan comitative yayanintin yayankunantin abessive yayanninnaq yayankunannaq comparative yayanhina yayankunahina causative yayanrayku yayankunarayku benefactive yayanpaq yayankunapaq associative yayanpura yayankunapura distributive yayaninka yayankunanka exclusive yayanlla yayankunalla ñuqanchikpa - first-person inclusive plural ñuqanchikpa (our(incl)) singular plural nominative yayanchik yayanchikkuna accusative yayanchikta yayanchikkunata dative yayanchikman yayanchikkunaman genitive yayanchikpa yayanchikkunap locative yayanchikpi yayanchikkunapi terminative yayanchikkama yayanchikkunakama ablative yayanchikmanta yayanchikkunamanta instrumental yayanchikwan yayanchikkunawan comitative yayanchiknintin yayanchikkunantin abessive yayanchikninnaq yayanchikkunannaq comparative yayanchikhina yayanchikkunahina causative yayanchikrayku yayanchikkunarayku benefactive yayanchikpaq yayanchikkunapaq associative yayanchikpura yayanchikkunapura distributive yayanchikninka yayanchikkunanka exclusive yayanchiklla yayanchikkunalla ñuqaykup - first-person exclusive plural ñuqaykup (our(excl)) singular plural nominative yayayku yayaykukuna accusative yayaykuta yayaykukunata dative yayaykuman yayaykukunaman genitive yayaykupa yayaykukunap locative yayaykupi yayaykukunapi terminative yayaykukama yayaykukunakama ablative yayaykumanta yayaykukunamanta instrumental yayaykuwan yayaykukunawan comitative yayaykuntin yayaykukunantin abessive yayaykunnaq yayaykukunannaq comparative yayaykuhina yayaykukunahina causative yayaykurayku yayaykukunarayku benefactive yayaykupaq yayaykukunapaq associative yayaykupura yayaykukunapura distributive yayaykunka yayaykukunanka exclusive yayaykulla yayaykukunalla qamkunap - second-person plural qamkunap (your(pl)) singular plural nominative yayaykichik yayaykichikkuna accusative yayaykichikta yayaykichikkunata dative yayaykichikman yayaykichikkunaman genitive yayaykichikpa yayaykichikkunap locative yayaykichikpi yayaykichikkunapi terminative yayaykichikkama yayaykichikkunakama ablative yayaykichikmanta yayaykichikkunamanta instrumental yayaykichikwan yayaykichikkunawan comitative yayaykichiknintin yayaykichikkunantin abessive yayaykichikninnaq yayaykichikkunannaq comparative yayaykichikhina yayaykichikkunahina causative yayaykichikrayku yayaykichikkunarayku benefactive yayaykichikpaq yayaykichikkunapaq associative yayaykichikpura yayaykichikkunapura distributive yayaykichikninka yayaykichikkunanka exclusive yayaykichiklla yayaykichikkunalla paykunap - third-person plural paykunap (their) singular plural nominative yayanku yayankukuna accusative yayankuta yayankukunata dative yayankuman yayankukunaman genitive yayankupa yayankukunap locative yayankupi yayankukunapi terminative yayankukama yayankukunakama ablative yayankumanta yayankukunamanta instrumental yayankuwan yayankukunawan comitative yayankuntin yayankukunantin abessive yayankunnaq yayankukunannaq comparative yayankuhina yayankukunahina causative yayankurayku yayankukunarayku benefactive yayankupaq yayankukunapaq associative yayankupura yayankukunapura distributive yayankunka yayankukunanka exclusive yayankulla yayankukunalla

Spanish

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Etymology

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Perhaps from Modern Greek γιαγιά (giagiá, “grandmother”). Or more likely simply a feminine of yayo (see there for further etymology).

Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /ˈʝaʝa/ [ˈɟ͡ʝa.ʝa]

• IPA(key): /ˈʝaʝa/ [ˈɟ͡ʝa.ʝa] (everywhere but Argentina and Uruguay)
• IPA(key): /ˈʃaʃa/ [ˈʃa.ʃa] (Buenos Aires and environs)
• IPA(key): /ˈʒaʒa/ [ˈʒa.ʒa] (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay)

• Rhymes: -aʝa
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

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yaya f (plural yayas)

1. granny, gran
2. (Philippines) female caregiver; nursemaid; nanny (girl or woman employed to take care of children)

Related terms

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• yayo

Further reading

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• “yaya”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025
• “yaya”, in Diccionario de americanismos [Dictionary of Americanisms] (in Spanish), Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish: Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española], 2010

Swahili

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Etymology

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Uncertain, but possibly from Portuguese aia (“maid”)[1] or an Indian language, such as Hindi आया (āyā, “dry nurse, nanny”).[2][3]

Pronunciation

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• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

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yaya class V (plural mayaya class VI)

1. nanny, babysitter, ayah

References

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1. ^ Baldi, Sergio (16 October 2023), Dictionary of Portuguese Loanwords in the Languages of Sub-Saharan Africa (Brill's Studies in Language, Cognition and Culture; 40), Leiden: Brill, →DOI, →ISBN, page 95 Nr. 33
2. ^ Mugane, John M. (2015), The Story of Swahili (Africa in World History), Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, →ISBN, page 53: “In addition, the Swahili adopted Portuguese words […] and (from Latin) avia, through the Portuguese and/or Hindi ayag, is yaya (nanny).”
3. ^ Johnson, Frederick (1939), A Standard Swahili-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 534

Tagalog

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Etymology 1

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Borrowed from Philippine Spanish yaya (“nanny; nursemaid”), from Spanish yaya (“granny”). Compare with Cebuano yaya, Catalan iaia.

Pronunciation

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• (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /ˈjaja/ [ˈjaː.jɐ]
• Rhymes: -aja
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

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yaya (masculine yayo, Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ)

1. nanny; nursemaid; female caregiver/caretaker; amah (girl or woman employed to take care of children) Synonym: ama
2. wet nurse Synonyms: sisiwa, mamay
3. (by extension) helper; maid Synonyms: katulong, kasambahay, utusan, kriyada

Etymology 2

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Compare anyaya (“invitation”).

Pronunciation

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• (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /ˈjajaʔ/ [ˈjaː.jɐʔ]
• Rhymes: -ajaʔ
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

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yayà (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ)

1. invitation; request; persuasion; inducement Synonyms: pagyaya, anyaya, imbitasyon, kayag, kumbida, yakag
2. person invited (to come to a certain place or to help do something)

Alternative forms

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• aya

Derived terms

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• magyaya
• magyayaan
• mayaya
• pagyaya
• yayaan
• yayain
• yumaya

Related terms

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• anyaya

Adjective

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yayà (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ)

1. invited personally to help do certain work Synonyms: yakag, niyakag

Etymology 3

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Pronunciation

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• (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /jaˈja/ [jɐˈja]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

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yayá (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ) (obsolete)

1. driving away or shooing maya birds Synonyms: bugaw, wasiwas, hiyaw, sibok

Derived terms

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• mapayaya
• yayahan
• yumaya

Etymology 4

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Pronunciation

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• (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /jaˈjaʔ/ [jɐˈjaʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

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yayâ (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ) (obsolete)

1. name of the Baybayin letter ᜌ, corresponding to "ya"

See also

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• ya

Further reading

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• “yaya”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018
• San Buena Ventura, Fr. Pedro de (1613), Vocabulario de lengua tagala. El romance castellano puesto primero. Primera, y segunda parte.‎[2] (overall work in Early Modern Spanish and Classical Tagalog), as directed by Gov. Gen. Juan de Silva, Pila, Laguna: La noble Villa de Pila, por Tomás Pinpin y Domingo Loag.
  • page 171: “Combidar) Yaya (pp) llamando ꝑa combite fieſta o otra coſa”
  • page 396: “Llamar) Yaya (pp) combidando ꝑa algo”
  • page 437: “Munir) Yaya (pp) juntando la gente”
  • page 605: “Y) Yaya (pc) letra de la eſcritura tagala .|. yaya yaon .|. ᜌ . aba ſuſulat aco nang yaya ? quieres q̃ eſcriua vna .y. de Indio? [yba din] ang yaya dito nang ſa Manila, vna y es [la de] aqui u otra đ M.”

Ternate

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Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): [ˈja.ja]

Noun

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yaya

1. mother Synonym: hera

References

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• Rika Hayami-Allen (2001), A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh

Turkish

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Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /jaja/

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

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Inherited from Ottoman Turkish یایا (yaya).

Noun

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yaya (definite accusative yayayı, plural yayalar)

1. pedestrian; someone walking, instead of using a vehicle
2. (military, historical) foot soldier

Declension

[edit] Declension of yaya

singular plural nominative yaya yayalar definite accusative yayayı yayaları dative yayaya yayalara locative yayada yayalarda ablative yayadan yayalardan genitive yayanın yayaların Possessive forms nominative singular plural 1st singular yayam yayalarım 2nd singular yayan yayaların 3rd singular yayası yayaları 1st plural yayamız yayalarımız 2nd plural yayanız yayalarınız 3rd plural yayaları yayaları definite accusative singular plural 1st singular yayamı yayalarımı 2nd singular yayanı yayalarını 3rd singular yayasını yayalarını 1st plural yayamızı yayalarımızı 2nd plural yayanızı yayalarınızı 3rd plural yayalarını yayalarını dative singular plural 1st singular yayama yayalarıma 2nd singular yayana yayalarına 3rd singular yayasına yayalarına 1st plural yayamıza yayalarımıza 2nd plural yayanıza yayalarınıza 3rd plural yayalarına yayalarına locative singular plural 1st singular yayamda yayalarımda 2nd singular yayanda yayalarında 3rd singular yayasında yayalarında 1st plural yayamızda yayalarımızda 2nd plural yayanızda yayalarınızda 3rd plural yayalarında yayalarında ablative singular plural 1st singular yayamdan yayalarımdan 2nd singular yayandan yayalarından 3rd singular yayasından yayalarından 1st plural yayamızdan yayalarımızdan 2nd plural yayanızdan yayalarınızdan 3rd plural yayalarından yayalarından genitive singular plural 1st singular yayamın yayalarımın 2nd singular yayanın yayalarının 3rd singular yayasının yayalarının 1st plural yayamızın yayalarımızın 2nd plural yayanızın yayalarınızın 3rd plural yayalarının yayalarının Predicative forms singular plural 1st singular yayayım yayalarım 2nd singular yayasın yayalarsın 3rd singular yayayayadır yayalaryayalardır 1st plural yayayız yayalarız 2nd plural yayasınız yayalarsınız 3rd plural yayalar yayalardır

Etymology 2

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See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

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yaya

1. dative singular of yay

Related terms

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• yayan

References

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• Robert Avery et al., editors (2013), The Redhouse Dictionary Turkish/Ottoman English, 21st edition, Istanbul: Sev Yayıncılık, →ISBN

West Makian

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Etymology

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Together with the polite baba (“father”), likely borrowed from Ternate yaya (“mother”).

Pronunciation

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• IPA(key): /ˈja.ja/

Noun

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yaya

1. mother

Usage notes

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The term yaya is used for addressing one's mother, whereas the terms mama and mamu are used for referring to a mother.

References

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• Clemens Voorhoeve (1982), The Makian languages and their neighbours‎[3], Pacific linguistics