# maria

/mɝˈiə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/maria
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a common name for a girl or woman in many different cultures.

For teachers: a female given name of Hebrew origin, widely used in Christian and secular contexts across various languages.

- Maria is the most popular name in her family, shared by both her mother and grandmother.
- The name Maria remains a cross-cultural staple, appearing frequently in Spanish, Italian, and German-speaking populations with slight phonetic variations.

### 2. lunar plains

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the large, dark, flat areas on the surface of the moon.

For teachers: the plural form of 'mare', referring to large, dark, basaltic plains on the Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.

- When you look at the moon, the dark patches you see are called maria.
- Early astronomers mistook the vast lunar maria for actual seas, a misconception that persists in the Latin naming conventions used on modern star charts.

Usage: This is the plural form of 'mare'; it is pronounced with three syllables (muh-REE-uh).

## Examples

- Maria is my sister's name.
- The teacher called on Maria to answer the question about the new history lesson.
- While the name Maria remains a perennial favorite in Spanish-speaking countries, its popularity has also endured across Europe and the Americas for centuries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.