mema
/mema/from spelling rules
mema is a Spanish nickname for the name Maria.
How do you pronounce it?
/mema/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish speaking countries, mema is also used as a slang term for someone who is naive, silly or slow to understand.
- In some social circles, calling someone a mema is a way to perform 'confianza', a specific type of social closeness where an insult is actually a sign of deep friendship.
- In some Spanish regions, calling someone mema is a gender-specific term. The masculine version, memo, is used for men to describe someone who is naive or slow.
Example conversation
Alejandro is introducing his grandmother to Elena.
- AlejandroElla es mi abuela, Mema.This is my grandmother, Mema.
- Elena¡Mucho gusto, Mema!Nice to meet you, Mema!
- AlejandroA ella le gusta que la llamen así.She likes to be called that.
- ElenaEs un nombre muy cariñoso.It is a very affectionate name.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
