mata-mata

From Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value), plural of mata. Doublet of maka, from Hawaiian.

mata-mata (plural mata-matas)

1. (Singapore, Malaysia, slang) A police officer.

• Mama Tata

Reduplication of mata (“eye”), inherited from Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value).

mata-mata

1. plural of mata

mata-mata (plural banyak mata-mata)

1. spy

   Synonyms: agen rahasia, detektif, intelijen

The word is part of false friends between Standard Malay and Indonesian due to shared etymology. The Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore usage can be seen in Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value).

• “mata-mata” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Language Development and Fostering Agency — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.

Reduplication of mata (“eye”).

• IPA^(key): /mata mata/
  • (Johor-Riau) IPA^(key): [matə matə]
• Rhymes: -ta, -a

mata-mata (Jawi spelling مات٢‎)

1. Plural of mata.

mata-mata (Jawi spelling مات٢‎, plural banyak mata-mata)

1. A police officer.

   Synonyms: polis, perajurit

2. A spy.

   Synonyms: ejen rahsia, pengintip, perisik, luluk

The word is part of false friends between Standard Malay and Indonesian due to shared etymology. The Indonesian usage can be seen in Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value).

• Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
• Lua error in Module:utilities at line 142: attempt to perform arithmetic on local 'h' (a nil value)
• → Chinese: 馬打／马打 (mǎdǎ)
  • → Thai: หมาต๋า (mǎa-dtǎa)
• →? Vietnamese: mã tà

• “mata-mata” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.
• "mata-mata" in Kamus Dewan, Fourth Edition, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, →ISBN, 2005.

mata-mata f (plural mata-matas)

1. (Brazil) Alternative spelling of matamatá

mata-mata m (plural mata-matas)

1. (Brazil, sports) playoff
2. (Brazil, sports) knockout (tournament in which a team or player must beat the opponent in order to progress)

• “mata-mata” in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa.