matala

matar +‎ la

matala

1. Compound of matar + la

From Proto-Finnic *matala.

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɑtɑlɑ/, [ˈmɑt̪ɑlɑ]
• Rhymes: -ɑtɑlɑ
• Syllabification^(key): ma‧ta‧la

matala (comparative matalampi, superlative matalin)

1. low

   Antonym: korkea

2. shallow (not extending far down relative to breadth or width)

   Antonym: syvä

3. (music) low-pitched, low

   Antonym: korkea

   1. (informal) Synonym of alavireinen (“flat”).

matala is used to mean "shallow" as long as there is no risk of confusion with the other meaning "low". This almost always applies in terms of vertical depth, such as when talking about a body of water, a trench, a dish or receptacle, a cut or wound, etc. In case of horizontal depth, such as of a shelf or cabinet, other terms are used; a shallow bookshelf could be described as syvyydeltään kapea or syvyyssuunnassa kapea; terms such as lyhyt (literally “short”) or litteä (literally “flat”) may also be used in some cases.

Now rare:

• Maltaa, laamat, lamaat, lamata, maalta

From French matelas.

• IPA^(key): /mà.tà.lâː/

màtàlâ f (possessed form màtàlân)

1. (Niger) mattress

   Synonym: katifa

From Proto-Finnic *matala. Cognates include Finnish matala and Estonian madal.

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑtɑlɑ/, [ˈmɑtɑɫ]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /ˈmɑtɑːlɑ/, [ˈmɑtˑɑːɫɑ]
• Rhymes: -ɑtɑlɑ, -ɑtɑːlɑ
• Hyphenation: ma‧ta‧la

matala (comparative matalamp)

1. low, low-lying

matala

1. wash (area of shallow water)

• (low-lying): notko

• (low-lying): korkia

• V. I. Junus (1936) Iƶoran Keelen Grammatikka‎, Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 42
• Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 299