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Mara

Folklore
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Nightmare spirit in Germanic and Slavic folklore that sits on sleepers’ chests

Detailed Definition
Mara causes sleep paralysis and suffocation. In poetry, she embodies psychological terror, the weight of guilt, and the invasion of the unconscious, often appearing in horror or introspective verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Mara, nightmare spirit, haunts sleep poetry: "Mara sits upon my chest—breath gone, limbs locked in dread"; Poets use her to explore sleep paralysis: "She whispers fears I hide by day—Mara knows what shadows live in me"; In psychological verse, she symbolizes anxiety: "Not ghost, but stress made flesh—Mara’s weight is worry’s form"; Her name evokes universality: "Every culture knows her touch—Mara rides the edge of sleep"
Additional Notes
Mara: A malevolent spirit in Germanic and Slavic folklore that sits on sleepers’ chests, causing nightmares (source of “nightmare”). Also appears in Buddhist lore as a tempter. In poetry, she embodies sleep paralysis, anxiety, and oppressive presence. Useful in psychological or horror verse; contrast with benevolent dream figures like the Baku.
Other Meanings of “Mara”
Also Known As
Mara (nightmare spirit) Night Mare Nightmare Mare
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