बाई

Hindi

Alternative forms

• बायें (bāyẽ), बायेँ (bāyẽ), बायाँ (bāyā̃)

Etymology

From Sanskrit वामक (vāmaka, “left”).

Pronunciation

• (Delhi) IPA^(key): /bɑː.iː/, [bäː.iː]

Adjective

बाई • (bāī) (indeclinable)

1. left

See also

• बाएँ (bāẽ)

Marathi

Etymology

Inherited from Old Marathi बाइल (bāila), बाइसे (bāise). Further origination is unclear.

Date's Maharshtra Shabdakosh posits a derivation from Sanskrit भगवती (bhagavatī) or Sanskrit भवती (bhavatī), while Tulpule's A Dictionary of Old Marathi speculates a descent from Sanskrit वाप्त्रिका (vāptrikā), via the Prakrit 𑀩𑀸𑀇𑀬𑀸 (bāiyā).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bai/, [baiː]

Noun

बाई • (bāī) f

1. woman

   Synonym: स्त्री (strī)

2. A term of address by a student for a female teacher.
3. (honorific) a title appended to a woman's name as a respectful form of reference or address

   सावित्रीबाई, पार्वतीबाई, आनंदीबाई etc.

   sāvitrībāī, pārvatībāī, ānandībāī etc.

   Savitribai, Parvatibai, Anandibai etc.

4. (colloquial) housemaid

   Synonym: मोलकरीण (molakrīṇ)

References

• Berntsen, Maxine, “बाई”, in A Basic Marathi-English Dictionary, New Delhi: American Institute of Indian Studies, 1982-1983.
• दाते, यशवंत रामकृष्ण [Date, Yashwant Ramkrishna] (1932-1950) “बाई”, in महाराष्ट्र शब्दकोश (mahārāṣṭra śabdakoś) (in Marathi), पुणे [Pune]: महाराष्ट्र कोशमंडळ (mahārāṣṭra kośmaṇḍaḷ).
• Tulpule, Shankar Gopal; Feldhaus, Anne, “बाइल”, in A Dictionary of Old Marathi, Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, 1999.