<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001279392</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENDOWMENT MASTER FUND L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>None</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001282350</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS ADAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4265 SAN FELIPE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Limited Partnership Interests</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1972166.98</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities are limited partnership interests. Holders are deemed to own a single interest, regardless of the amount of the interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Thomas has an indirect interest of $1,036,103.36 (estimated value as of 3/1/10) through affiliates of Salient Partners, L.P.'s investment in The Endowment Registered Fund, L.P. that invests in The Endowment Master Fund, L.P. He has $936,063.62 (estimated value as of 3/1/10) directly invested in The Endowment (Domestic QP) Fund, L.P., which in turn invests in the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Through the investment of Salient Trust Co. in The Endowment Master Fund, L.P. via The Endowment Registered Fund, L.P. Salient Trust Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Salient Partners, L.P., in which Mr. Thomas has an interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Adam L. Thomas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
