8-letter words that end in a
- mahavira — Vardhamana.
- mahayana — the later of the two great schools of Buddhism, chiefly in China, Tibet, and Japan, characterized by eclecticism and a general belief in a common search for salvation, sometimes thought to be attainable through faith alone.
- mahendra — (Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva) 1920–72, king of Nepal 1955–72.
- mahratta — Maratha.
- maiolica — majolica.
- maitreya — the future Buddha
- majolica — Italian earthenware covered with an opaque glaze of tin oxide and usually highly decorated.
- makarova — Natalia [nuh-tal-yuh,, -tahl-;; Russian nuh-tah-lyuh] /nəˈtæl yə,, -ˈtɑl-;; Russian nʌˈtɑ lyə/ (Show IPA), born 1940, Soviet ballerina, in the U.S. and England since 1970.
- malaroma — an unpleasant smell
- malaysia — a constitutional monarchy in SE Asia: a federation, comprising the former British territories of Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak: member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 126,310 sq. mi. (327,143 sq. km). Capital: Kuala Lumpur.
- mallorca — Majorca.
- malvasia — a sweet grape from which malmsey wine is made.
- mamaliga — a porridge of cornmeal, orig. of Romania
- mammalia — (obsolete) alternative case form of Mammalia.
- mammilla — Anatomy. the nipple of the mamma, or breast.
- manarola — a group of five coastal villages (Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore) on the Ligurian Sea in NW Italy, near La Spezia.
- mandella — A decorative Native American object, derived from a traditional ceremonial shield.
- mandinka — Malinke.
- mandioca — cassava.
- mandorla — A pointed oval figure used as an architectural feature and as an aureole enclosing figures such as Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary in medieval art.
- manitoba — a province in central Canada. 246,512 sq. mi. (638,466 sq. km). Abbreviation: Man. Capital: Winnipeg.
- mantegna — Andrea [ahn-dre-ah] /ɑnˈdrɛ ɑ/ (Show IPA), 1431–1506, Italian painter and engraver.
- mantilla — a silk or lace head scarf arranged over a high comb and falling over the back and shoulders, worn in Spain, Mexico, etc.
- mantinea — an ancient city in S Greece, in Arcadia: battles 362 b.c., 223 b.c.
- mantissa — Mathematics. the decimal part of a common logarithm. Compare characteristic (def 3a).
- manyatta — (East Africa) A Masai or Samburu settlement or compound, often temporary, established by a family or clan, or as an encampment of young warriors.
- maracuja — A passion fruit.
- maradona — Diego (dɪˈeɪɡəʊ) (Armando). born 1960, Argentinian footballer and manager: his clubs included Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Napoli; scored 34 goals in 91 internationals (1977–94); under his captaincy Argentina won the World Cup in 1986
- marbella — a seaport in S Spain, on the Mediterranean: resort center.
- marcella — a female given name.
- marchesa — an Italian noblewoman, equivalent in rank to a marquise.
- marianna — a female given name.
- maricopa — a member of a North American Indian people of south-central Arizona.
- marietta — a city in NW Georgia.
- marikana — a town in the North West Province of South Africa; the platinum mine was the scene of a strike and armed conflict in 2012 during which 47 people, mostly mineworkers, died. Pop: 19 522 (2011)
- marikina — a city in Luzon, SW Philippines, E of Manila.
- marinara — Italian Cookery. a highly seasoned sauce of tomatoes, garlic, and spices.
- marinera — a South American folk dance
- mariposa — any lily of the genus Calochortus, of the western U.S. and Mexico, having tuliplike flowers of various colors.
- marquesa — A Spanish marchioness.
- marsilea — (botany) Any of the genus Marsilea of aquatic ferns.
- marsupia — Plural form of marsupium.
- martyria — a place where the relics of a martyr are kept.
- matadora — A female matador.
- matamata — A grotesque South American freshwater turtle that has a broad flat head and neck with irregular projections of skin resembling waterweed.
- matralia — an annual festival of ancient Rome celebrated by women in honor of the goddess Matuta.
- matsuoka — Yosuke [yaw-soo-ke] /yɔˈsu kɛ/ (Show IPA), 1880–1946, Japanese statesman.
- mbandaka — a city in the W Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- mbaqanga — a style of Black popular music of urban South Africa
- mcnamara — Robert Strange, 1916–2009, U.S. business executive and government official: Secretary of Defense 1961–68; president of World Bank 1968–81.