Mami Wata

noun

Ma·mi Wa·ta ˈmä-mē-ˈwä-tä

: water deity of West African and Caribbean mythology depicted as a mermaid compare mamba muntu

Word History

Etymology

"Mother of Waters" in English-based creoles of West Africa

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Mami Wata was in 1966

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

mamillate

Mami Wata

Mamluk

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mami Wata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mami%20Wata. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Mami Wata

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tilde

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes