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I know of some people in south Arkansas and north Louisiana that use this phrase. An example of its use would be when you have almost used up something, you have reached the "kamarka part."

I hear it pronounced kah-MARK-ah.

I have no idea of the correct spelling or where this comes from and can't seem to find anything about it and would like to know more.

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closed as too localized by coleopterist, tchrist, Kristina Lopez, Andrew Leach, Bill Franke Feb 15 '13 at 7:12


The word is from Hindi and I'm not sure if it's even borrowed into English. Not an English word in the strict sense. –  Kris Jan 26 '13 at 7:21
I know Hindi well. This phrase is not Hindi or Indian unless it is 'kamar ka' – two words which would mean 'of waist' in Hindi, but I don't think that's the term you are actually referring to. –  user32480 Jan 29 '13 at 12:33
Can you perhaps provide a recording or ascertain the spelling of this word? –  coleopterist Feb 4 '13 at 17:29
@coleopterist Like I said, I have no idea of the spelling and I am led to believe that it is only spoken. I am spelling it like I hear it. I can understand that some may think it is Hindi, but I am more inclined to think that it might be Scots-Irish in origin as I have caught people using Scots words. The newspaper in the area around where I hear it used Scots forms of words even up to around 50 years ago. The most notable was a headline using "drouth" instead of "drought". –  unitron6991 Feb 4 '13 at 20:54
@unitron6991 Then I guess we'll need a recording. As it stands, it's a little too obscure and localised. I agree that it's unlikely to be Hindi in origin. –  coleopterist Feb 5 '13 at 6:51

2 Answers 2

This seems to originate from Indian style cooking, with 'kamarka' meaning the gum from the tree that poorer communities use. http://www.wordaz.com/kamarkas.html So the phrase from Arkansas could be meaning that they've reached the end/bottom of a jar/container, maybe.

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I think you've got the wrong Indians here. –  coleopterist Jan 26 '13 at 6:57
@coleopterist What is wrong with some Indians? –  Kris Jan 26 '13 at 7:22
The link points to a page that does not define the word. Do you think this an English word? –  Kris Jan 26 '13 at 7:23
@Kris I'm assuming that Amanda believed these Indians to be Native Americans which might have explained the use of the word in Arkansas. –  coleopterist Jan 26 '13 at 7:24
I don't see an indication in Amanda's answer which Indians she refers to. –  Mr Lister Jan 26 '13 at 7:52

I think you meant Kah-ma-kah. It's a Hindi word derived from Persian/Urdu languages. It implies "used-up in vain".

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Yes,kamar ka = of waist. I guess u haven't yet come across the word - khamakha ( e.g., khamakha pareshan mat karo ji). Its a typical Urdu word , also used in Hindi. Please check it up. –  Sonuli Jan 30 '13 at 9:04
