vai
Translingual edit
Symbol edit
vai
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Noun edit
vai
- (grammar) Initialism of verb animate intransitive: an intransitive verb that agrees with an animate subject.
Coordinate terms edit
Anagrams edit
Anuta edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
- Anuta: a Polynesian outlier in the Solomon Islands (1973)
- Oral Traditions of Anuta: A Polynesian Outlier in the Solomon Islands (1998)
Dalmatian edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Latin hodie. Compare Friulian vuê.
Adverb edit
vai
East Futuna edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Emae edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Fijian edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Central Pacific *vai, from Proto-Oceanic *paʀi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paʀih (compare Indonesian pari, Malay pari), from Proto-Austronesian *paʀiS.
Noun edit
vai
- ray (marine fish with a flat body, large wing-like fins, and a whip-like tail)
Finnish edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Finnic *vai. Probably ultimately from the same root as vajaa, possibly by analogy with tai.
Pronunciation edit
Conjunction edit
vai
- (coordinating, in question clauses) or (exclusive or; either what comes before or what comes after)
- Onko se suuri vai pieni?
- Is it big or small?
Usage notes edit
- While it is often said that tai is to be used in affirmative clauses and vai is to be used in question clauses, a more precise difference is that tai is an inclusive or, while vai is an exclusive or. For instance, while Söitkö sinä leivän tai hedelmät? and Söitkö sinä leivän vai hedelmät? are both correct, the former asks in a yes or no question, whether you ate either bread or fruit or not, while the latter asks which you ate, the bread or the fruit.
See also edit
Adverb edit
vai (colloquial)
- (interrogative adverb) is that so?
- Tulee vai?
- Oh, [he/she/it] is coming?
Further reading edit
- “vai”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish][1] (online dictionary, continuously updated, in Finnish), Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-04
Anagrams edit
Futuna-Aniwa edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Galician edit
Etymology edit
From Latin vādit (See vādō, vādere.) Usurped expected ed or í, from īt, third person singular of eō, īre
Verb edit
vai
- inflection of ir:
- É a rapaza a que vai ao monte con ovellas e cabras
- It is the girl who goes to the mountain with sheep and goats
- inflection of ir:
Further reading edit
- “ir” in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval, SLI - ILGA 2006–2022.
Guaraní edit
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
vai
Inflection edit
Ingrian edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Finnic *vai. Cognate with Finnish vai and Estonian või.
Pronunciation edit
- (Ala-Laukaa) IPA(key): /ˈʋɑi̯/, [ˈʋɑi̯]
- (Soikkola) IPA(key): /ˈʋɑi̯/, [ˈʋɑi̯]
- Rhymes: -ɑi̯
- Hyphenation: vai
Conjunction edit
vai
- or
- 1936, D. I. Efimov, Lukukirja: Inkeroisia alkușkouluja vart (ensimäine osa), Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 12:
- Onko se niin vai ei oo?
- Is that so or isn't it?
- 1936, L. G. Terehova, V. G. Erdeli, translated by Mihailov and P. I. Maksimov, Geografia: oppikirja iƶoroin alkușkoulun kolmatta klaassaa vart (ensimäine osa), Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-Pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 6:
- Kummaas poolees oppilapsist ovat ikkunat - oikiaas vai kuras?
- On which side of the students are the windows - on the right or on the left?
Synonyms edit
Related terms edit
- vaa (“only; but”)
References edit
- V. I. Junus (1936) Iƶoran Keelen Grammatikka[2], Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 136
- Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 630
- Olga I. Konkova; Nikita A. Dyachkov (2014) Inkeroin Keel: Пособие по Ижорскому Языку[3], →ISBN, page 79
Italian edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Verb edit
vai
- inflection of andare:
Etymology 2 edit
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Verb edit
vai
- inflection of vaiare:
Anagrams edit
Latvian edit
Etymology 1 edit
Borrowed from Livonian või or dialectal Estonian vai; compare other Finnic languages (Finnish vai, Standard Estonian või). First found occasionally in Latvian writings in the 17th century, initially as a conjunction, then as a particle, it became more frequent in the 18th century; but only in the 19th century did it really strike root in the language.[1] Likely unrelated to Sanskrit वा (vā).
Pronunciation edit
Conjunction edit
vai
- used to indicate a disjunction between two elements; or (in the either-or sense, not in the sense of a.k.a., which is jeb).
- atbildi: jā vai nē! ― answer: yes or no!
- viņa nezināja, ko pirkt: rozes vai neļķes ― she didn't know what to buy: roses or carnations
- used to suggest vagueness, uncertainty, or a veiled threat; usually followed by ellipsis (...); or, or else...
- ja labi grib, to darbu var veikt parasts dežurants, vai brigadieris, vai (...) ― if (he) really wants, an ordinary man on duty can do this job, or a brigadier, or... (= or someone like that)
- vai tas kāds noziegums, kauns, vai? — is this a crime, a shame, or what?
- jums tas jādara, vai... ― you all have to do this, or else...
- used to introduce conditional subordinate clauses; whether, if
- nav zināms, vai to darījis viņš ― it is not known whether he did it
- es nezinu, vai to spēšu ― I don't know if I will be able to
- pasaki, vai es esmu nodevējs ― tell me if I am a traitor
See also edit
Particle edit
vai
- interrogative particle, used in either-or questions
- vai tu runā latviski? ― do you speak Latvian?
- vai tu dzirdi? ― do you hear? are you listening?
Noun edit
vai m (invariable)
- the word vai itself; also, implicitly, a question
- cits pēc cita nāca tik daudzi vai, ka viņa nevarēja ilgāk izturēt ― so many vai's (= questions) came one after the other that she couldn't stand it any longer
Etymology 2 edit
From Proto-Indo-European *way- (“oh!, ah!; woe!, alas!”). Cognates include Lithuanian vái, vaĩ, Old High German wē, Old English wā, Latin vae, German weh, English woe.[1]
Pronunciation edit
IPA(key): [vāī], IPA(key): [vài], IPA(key): [vaî] (depending on situational intonation)
Interjection edit
vai
- used to express emotional responses: excitement, surprise, pain, fear, sorrow, irritation, etc.
- vai, ko es daru! ― oh! what am I doing!
- vai, kāds jūs līks izskatāties! ― boy, look at you! what a sight!
- vai, vai, Ilma, vai, tev tikai nauda prātā! ― oh come on, Ilma, you only think about money!
References edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “vai”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN
Livvi edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Finnic *vai.
Pronunciation edit
Conjunction edit
vai
- or
- 2018, Tatjana Boiko, Lʹudmila Markianova, Suuri Venʹa-Karjalaine Sanakniigu (livvin murreh) [The Big Russian-Karelian dictionary (Livvi dialect)], 3rd edition, →ISBN, page 118:
- Kuulet vai et kuule?
- Can you hear or not?
- 2018, Tatjana Boiko, Lʹudmila Markianova, Suuri Venʹa-Karjalaine Sanakniigu (livvin murreh) [The Big Russian-Karelian dictionary (Livvi dialect)], 3rd edition, →ISBN, page 118:
- lähtet vai et lähte?
- Will you go or not?
- if
- 2019, Tatjana Boiko, Suuri Karjal-Venʹalaine Sanakniigu (livvin murreh) [The Big Karelian-Russian dictionary (Livvi dialect)], 2rd edition, →ISBN, page 311:
- Et vai tulle, suutun.
- If you don't come, i'll get angry.
Adverb edit
vai
- only
- 2019, Tatjana Boiko, Suuri Karjal-Venʹalaine Sanakniigu (livvin murreh) [The Big Karelian-Russian dictionary (Livvi dialect)], 2rd edition, →ISBN, page 311:
- Nenga tansie voijah vai harvat.
- Only a few can dance like this.
Synonyms edit
References edit
- Tatjana Boiko (2019) Suuri Karjal-Venʹalaine Sanakniigu (livvin murreh) [The Big Karelian-Russian dictionary (Livvi dialect)], 2nd edition, →ISBN, page 311
- Tatjana Boiko; Lʹudmila Markianova (2018) Suuri Venʹa-Karjalaine Sanakniigu (livvin murreh) [The Big Russian-Karelian dictionary (Livvi dialect)], 3rd edition, →ISBN, page 118
Ludian edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Finnic *vai.
Conjunction edit
vai
Macanese edit
Etymology edit
From Portuguese vai, from Old Galician-Portuguese vai, and also the third-person singular present indicative inflection of ir.
Verb edit
vai
- to go
- Êle nádi vai ― He will not go
- Já vai sim falâ co iou ― He left without talking to me
Derived terms edit
References edit
Mangarevan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- Edward Tregear, A Dictionary of Mangareva (or Gambier Islands) (1899)
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Niuafo'ou edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
Niuean edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- Niue Language Dictionary (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1997, →ISBN)
North Efate edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
North Marquesan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Northern Sami edit
Etymology edit
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) Related to Finnish vai.
Pronunciation edit
Conjunction edit
vai
Further reading edit
- Koponen, Eino; Ruppel, Klaas; Aapala, Kirsti, editors (2002–2008) Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages[4], Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland
Norwegian Bokmål edit
Verb edit
vai
- imperative of vaie
Nuguria edit
Noun edit
vai
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Nukuoro edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- Vern Carroll, An outline of the structure of the language of Nukuoro (1965)
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Ontong Java edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
Penrhyn edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Pileni edit
Noun edit
vai
References edit
- A Grammar of Vaeakau-Taumako (2011, →ISBN
Portuguese edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese vai, from vādit (present indicative), Latin vāde (imperative). Cognate with Galician vai and Spanish va.
Pronunciation edit
- (Northern Portugal) IPA(key): [ˈbaj]
- Rhymes: -aj
- Hyphenation: vai
Verb edit
vai
- inflection of ir:
Pukapukan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
Further reading edit
Rapa Nui edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Rarotongan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Probably an expressive creation. Similar words are found in many other languages, especially Indo-European. Compare Latin vae, Albanian vaj, Italian guai, Sicilian vai, Spanish ay, Ancient Greek οὐαί (ouaí), English woe.
Pronunciation edit
Interjection edit
vai
Derived terms edit
Samoan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Sicilian edit
Etymology 1 edit
Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *wai (“expression of grief”).[1] Alternatively from Ancient Greek οὐαί (ouaí), from the verse in Revelation 8:13. Compare English woe, German Weh, Latin vae, Italian guai.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
vai (only plural)
- troubles, problems, hardship, misfortune
- (interjection) trouble, difficulty, mess, pickle, fix, woe, jam
- Minchia di vai! ― That's a fucking trouble!
Etymology 2 edit
Derived from Latin vādō. More at Sicilian jiri.
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
vai
- inflection of jiri:
References edit
South Efate edit
Noun edit
vai
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
South Marquesan edit
Noun edit
vai
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Tahitian edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Etymology 2 edit
Pronoun edit
vai
Takuu edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
Tikopia edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- Raymond Firth, Mervyn McLean, Tikopia Songs: Poetic and Musical Art of a Polynesian People (1990)
Tokelauan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai. Cognates include Hawaiian wai and Samoan vai.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
vai
References edit
- R. Simona, editor (1986) Tokelau Dictionary[5], Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 417
Tongan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
vai
- water (clear liquid H₂O)
References edit
- William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)
Tuvaluan edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.
Noun edit
vai
Synonyms edit
- (lake): vaitūloto
References edit
- An Introduction to Tuvaluan (1999, →ISBN
Uneapa edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Oceanic *pai.
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
vai
- to weave
Further reading edit
- Malcolm Ross, Proto Oceanic and the Austronesian Languages of Western Melanesia, Pacific Linguistics, series C-98 (1988)
Veps edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Finnic *vai.
Conjunction edit
vai
References edit
Vietnamese edit
Alternative forms edit
- (North Central Vietnam) ban
Etymology edit
Attested as Middle Vietnamese ꞗĕai, ꞗai in Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum (1651), a dictionary based chiefly on the Northern dialects.
Attested in Phật thuyết đại báo phụ mẫu ân trọng kinh (佛說大報父母恩重經) as 多埋 (MC ta meaj) (modern SV: đa mai).
Compare Proto-Katuic *ʔapaal (“shoulder”) (whence Pacoh apal).
Some North Central dialects have the form ban with unlenited ‹b› (vs. standard form with lenited ‹v›) and ‹-n› reflex of earlier *-l.
Pronunciation edit
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [vaːj˧˧]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [vaːj˧˧]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [vaːj˧˧] ~ [jaːj˧˧]
Audio (Hồ Chí Minh City) (file)
Noun edit
- (anatomy) a shoulder
- (television, film, theater) a role; a part
- vai chính ― a main/lead role
- vai phụ ― a supporting role
See also edit
Votic edit
Etymology edit
From Proto-Finnic *vai.
Pronunciation edit
Conjunction edit
vai
Interjection edit
vai
References edit
- Hallap, V.; Adler, E.; Grünberg, S.; Leppik, M. (2012), “vai”, in Vadja keele sõnaraamat [A dictionary of the Votic language], 2nd edition, Tallinn