Maasai

noun

Maa·​sai mä-ˈsī How to pronounce Maasai (audio)
ˈmä-ˌsī
variants or Masai
plural Maasai or Maasais or Masai or Masais
1
: a member of a pastoral and hunting people of Kenya and Tanzania
2
: the Nilotic language of the Maasai people

Examples of Maasai in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Now, the woman who was once happy to let her husband lead chases the adventures herself: Hot air balloon rides over the Maasai Mara in Kenya, zip lining through a St. Lucia rainforest, and meditating with a Buddhist monk in South Korea, among them. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024 The Maasai and Samburu of Laikipia, Kenya believe standing on the peak of Ol Lentille Mountain brings you closer to God. Chloe Berge, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2024 Shared Parenting by Mark Boyd While hunting overnight at Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, a pride of female lions hid their cubs in the bushes. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 But to actually take in the whole of the Maasai Mara from my bed, bathtub, or even in the bathroom mirror’s reflection, ambling giraffes and elephants moving across it and visible to the naked eye, was something else. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Dec. 2023 Among the stunning wildlife portraits are an image of a polar bear sleeping on an iceberg off Norway’s Svalbard archipelago and a photograph of two lionesses grooming one of the pride’s five cubs in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 3 Dec. 2023 The circular dots emulate both the Maasai beads found in the brand’s Kenya LOVE bracelet and the rice that is so prominent in Balinese culture where this particular piece is made. Sarah Grossbart, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023 Traditional pastoralists like the Maasai in northern Tanzania maintain large spaces of natural savanna where wildlife and people thrive together. Derek E. Lee, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023 Moss recommends venturing to the quaint neighborhood of Cabbagetown for sledding followed by hot cocoa. 07 Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya A safari is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for parents and kids. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Maasai.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Maasai il-máásáì, a self-designation

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Maasai was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near Maasai

Cite this Entry

“Maasai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Maasai. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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