mala
ma·la/ˈmeɪ.lə/noun
mala is spelled M-A-L-A: 4 letters and 2 syllables (ma·la). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 34,063rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, mala means “A single lobe of an insect's maxilla” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of mala is malae or malas.
How many letters and syllables are in mala?
| Letters | 4: M-A-L-A |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: ma·la |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 34,063rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is mala?
Mala appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 34,063rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce mala?
- /ˈmeɪ.lə/
As a noun (“A bead or a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and…”): /ˈmɑːlɑː/, /ˈmɑlɑ/.
As a noun: /ˈmæl.ə/.
Mala has 2 syllables, split ma·la in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What rhymes with mala?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as mala (/ɑlɑ/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: alma, lama, amla, laam.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of mala
- malae plural
- malas plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does mala mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A single lobe of an insect's maxilla.
- 2
The grinding surface of an insect's mandible.
- 3
The third segment of a mandible of some myriapods.
- 4
A bead or a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity.
- 5
Synonym of rufous hare-wallaby.
- 6
A seasoning made from Sichuan pepper and chilis.
- 7
plural of malum
noun
- 1
Abbreviation of metformin-associated metabolic acidosis.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does mala come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin māla (“the cheekbone, jaw”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).