Usage of Marse and Massa
Historically, the words marse and massa were used in writing to represent spoken alterations of the word master that were associated especially with the speech of enslaved African Americans. In modern contexts, the word massa is considered offensive, especially when used by a person who is not Black to imitate stereotypes of African American English or to make reference to slavery. The use of marse is usually limited to historical contexts and may be considered offensive in modern ones.
Dictionary Entries Near massa
Cite this Entry
“Massa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/massa. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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