aj

See also: AJ, aJ, aj., aj-, ȧj-, and -aj

Arin

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Yeniseian *axʷ (“I”). Compare Kott ai (“I”) and Pumpokol ad (“I”). Also see Assan aj.

Pronoun

aj

1. I (first-person singular subjective)

   Synonym: ä

Related terms

• aiŋ

Assan

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Yeniseian *axʷ (“I”). Compare Kott ai (“I”) and Pumpokol ad (“I”). Also see Arin aj.

Pronoun

aj

1. I (first-person singular subjective)

   Synonym: ja

Related terms

• ajun

Czech

Alternative forms

• aji

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈaj]

Conjunction

aj

1. (dialect, Moravia) and (also), and even
2. (dialect, Moravia) even (implying an extreme example, used at the beginning of sentences)

Synonyms

• (standard Czech) i

Interjection

aj

1. (literary, obsolete) oh; lo, behold
   • 1593, “Genesis 1:31”, in Bible kralická [Kralice Bible]:

     A viděl Bůh vše, což učinil, a aj, bylo velmi dobré.

     And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.

Further reading

• “aj”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “aj”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

Drehu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑð/

Verb

aj

1. to swim

References

• Tyron, D.T., Hackman, B. (1983) Solomon Islands languages: An internal classification. Cited in: "Dehu" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.
• Leenhardt, M. (1946) Langues et dialectes de l'Austro-Mèlanèsie. Cited in: "ⁿDe’u" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.

Epigraphic Mayan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔɑχ/

Noun

aj

1. person, man
2. neutral or male prefix, mister

Related terms

• ajaw

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Interjection

aj

1. ow! ouch! oh dear! expression of pain, (unpleasant) surprise, etc.

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɒj]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒj

Etymology 1

From a spontaneous burst of sound.

Interjection

aj

1. oh
   • 1932, Attila József, Medvetánc (Bear Dance), poem, lines 1–2, [1]

     Fürtös, láncos, táncos, nyalka,
     aj de szép a kerek talpa!

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Uralic *aŋe.

Noun

aj

1. (obsolete) opening

Declension

Inflection of aj

	singular	plural
nominative	aj	ajak
accusative	ajt ajat	ajakat
dative	ajnak	ajaknak
instrumental	ajjal	ajakkal
causal-final	ajért	ajakért
translative	ajjá	ajakká
terminative	ajig	ajakig
essive-formal	ajként	ajakként
essive-modal	ajul	—
inessive	ajban	ajakban
superessive	ajon	ajakon
adessive	ajnál	ajaknál
illative	ajba	ajakba
sublative	ajra	ajakra
allative	ajhoz	ajakhoz
elative	ajból	ajakból
delative	ajról	ajakról
ablative	ajtól	ajaktól
non-attributive possessive – singular	ajé	ajaké
non-attributive possessive – plural	ajéi	ajakéi

Possessive forms of aj

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	ajam	ajaim
2nd person sing.	ajad	ajaid
3rd person sing.	aja	ajai
1st person plural	ajunk	ajaink
2nd person plural	ajatok	ajaitok
3rd person plural	ajuk	ajaik

Derived terms

• ajak
• ajóka
• ajt

Further reading

• (oh): aj in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
• aj in Nóra Ittzés, editor, A magyar nyelv nagyszótára [A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (Nszt.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published a–ez as of 2024).

Kalasha

Adjective

aj

1. this, this present, this current.

   aj bason.

   This spring.

Kaqchikel

Alternative forms

• aꜧ (obsolete)

Etymology

From Proto-Mayan *aaj.

Noun

aj

1. cane
2. firework

Derived terms

• Aj

References

• anonymous author (17th c.) Uocabulario copioso de las lenguas cakchikel y ꜭiche‎^[2] (in Spanish), page 8: “Aꜧ caña.”
• Brown, R. McKenna, Maxwell, Judith M., Little, Walter E. (2006) ¿La ütz awäch? Introduction to Kaqchikel Maya Language, Austin: University of Texas Press, page 204
• Ruyán Canú, Déborah, Coyote Tum, Rafael, Munson L., Jo Ann (1991) Diccionario cakchiquel central y español‎^[3] (in Spanish), Instituto Lingüístico de Verano de Centroamérica, page 2

Lombard

Alternative forms

• ai (Scriver lombard)

Etymology

From Latin alium.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

Noun

aj m

1. garlic

Lule Sami

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adverb

aj

1. also, too

Further reading

• 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

Marshallese

Etymology

From Proto-Micronesian *ate, from Proto-Oceanic *qate, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qatay, from Proto-Austronesian *qaCay. Cognate with Paiwan qatsay, Malay hati, Javanese ati, Tagalog atay, Fijian yate.

Pronunciation

• (phonetic) IPA^(key): [ɑtʲ]
• (phonemic) IPA^(key): /ɰætʲ/
• Bender phonemes: {haj}

Noun

aj

1. liver
2. spleen

References

• Marshallese–English Online Dictionary

Northern Kurdish

Central Kurdish	وەچ (weç)

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑːʒ/

Noun

aj f (Arabic spelling ئاژ)

1. sprout, sucker, bud

   Synonyms: bişkoj, gupik, terh, zîl

Declension

Declension of aj

definite feminine gender
case	singular	plural
nominative	aj	aj
construct	aja	ajên
oblique	ajê	ajan
demonstrative oblique	wê ajê	wan ajan
vocative	ajê	ajino
indefinite feminine gender
case	singular	plural
nominative	ajek	ajin
construct	ajeke	ajine
oblique	ajekê	ajinan

Derived terms

• aj dan

Related terms

• ajda

References

• Chyet, Michael L. (2020) “aj”, in Ferhenga Birûskî: Kurmanji–English Dictionary (Language Series; 1), volume 1, London: Transnational Press, page 4

Old Polish

Etymology

Natural expression. First attested in the 14th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /aj/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /aj/

Interjection

aj

1. (attested in Lesser Poland) oh!, whoa! (used as a reaction to an unexpected and unpleasant event or sensation)
   • 1939 [end of the 14th century], Ryszard Ganszyniec, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Kubica, Ludwik Bernacki, editors, Psałterz florjański łacińsko-polsko-niemiecki [Sankt Florian Psalter]‎^[5], Krakow: Zakład Narodowy imienia Ossolińskich, z zasiłkiem Sejmu Śląskiego [The Ossoliński National Institute: with the benefit of the Silesian Parliament], pages 39, 21:

     Noscze richlo ganbø swoiø, giszto molwø mne: ay ey (ferant confestim confusionem suam, qui dicunt mihi: euge, euge)!

     [Noście rychło gańbę swoję, jiż to mołwią mnie: Aj! Ej (ferant confestim confusionem suam, qui dicunt mihi: euge, euge)!]

Descendants

• Polish: aj
• Silesian: aj

References

• Sławski, Franciszek (1958-1965) “aj”, in Jan Safarewicz, Andrzej Siudut, editors, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego [Etymological dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), Kraków: Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego
• B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “aj”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN

Piedmontese

Etymology

From Latin alium.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

Noun

aj m

1. garlic

Pite Sami

Etymology

Cognates include Lule Sami aj.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aj/

Adverb

aj

1. also, too

References

• Joshua Wilbur (2014) A grammar of Pite Saami, Berlin: Language Science Press

Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish aj.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

• (Middle Polish) IPA^(key): /ˈaj/
• (Masovia):
  • (Warmia) IPA^(key): /ˈaj/
  • (Masuria) IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aj
• Syllabification: aj

Interjection

aj

1. oh!, whoa! (used as a reaction to an unexpected and unpleasant event or sensation)

Particle

aj

1. (Masuria, expressive) Introduces a clause; also

See also

• ajaj, aj-aj, ajajaj, aj-waj, aj waj

Further reading

• aj in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• aj in Polish dictionaries at PWN
• Krystyna Siekierska (02.05.2008) “AJ”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century]
• Zofia Stamirowska (1987-2024) “aj”, in Anna Basara, editor, Słownik gwar Ostródzkiego, Warmii i Mazur, volume 1, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich Wydawnictwo Polskiej Akademii Nauk, →ISBN, page 115

Pumpokol

Etymology

From Proto-Yeniseian *ʔej (“tongue”). Compare Kott ei (“voice, sound”).

Noun

aj

1. tongue

Q'eqchi

Article

aj

1. personal article used before masculine given names

   aj Mek ― Miguel

Prefix

aj

1. forms demonyms from names of places

   ‎aj + ‎Watemaal (“Guatemala”) → ‎aj Watemaal (“Guatemalan”)

2. forms agent nouns from verbs

   ‎aj + ‎elq'ak (“to steal”) → ‎aj elq' (“thief”)

Further reading

• Ch'ina tusleb' aatin q'eqchi'-kaxlan aatin ut kaxlan aatin-q'eqchi' (Guatemala, 1998) [6]

Silesian

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish aj.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aj
• Syllabification: aj

Interjection

aj

1. oh!, whoa! (used as a reaction to an unexpected and unpleasant event or sensation)

Further reading

• Aleksandra Wencel (2023) “aj”, in Dykcjůnôrz ślų̊sko-polski, page 10

Slovak

Etymology

Inherited from Old Slovak aj, likely a univerbation of a +‎ i.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [aj]

Adverb

aj

1. also
2. even (implying an extreme example, used at the beginning of sentences)

   Synonym: i

   Antonym: ani

Further reading

• “aj”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2025

Slovincian

Etymology

Onomatopoeic. Compare Kashubian aj, Polabian ai̯, and Polish aj.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/
• Rhymes: -aj
• Syllabification: aj

Interjection

aj

1. oh

   Synonyms: a, ach

References

• Lorentz, Friedrich (1908) “ãi̯”, in Slovinzisches Wörterbuch‎^[7] (in German), volume 1, Saint Petersburg: ОРЯС ИАН, page 2

Swedish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/
• Rhymes: -aj

Interjection

aj

1. ow, ouch; expression of one’s own pain, or sympathy with someone else’s.
   • (Can we date this quote?), traditional, “I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen [Last year I went with the men in the pasture]”, in Skillingtryck [Broadside ballads]‎^[8], performed by Hootenanny Singers:

     I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen. Ja, ja, med herrarna i hagen. Ja, med herrarna i hagen. I år har jag något som sparkar i magen. Aj, aj, som sparkar i magen. Aj, som sparkar i magen.

     Last year I went with the men in the pasture. Yes, yes, with the men in the pasture. Yes, with the men in the pasture. This year I have something that kicks in my belly. Ow, ow, that kicks in my belly. Ow, that kicks in my belly.

2. (repeated) An exclamation or expression of alarm, especially to avert or draw attention to a danger (concrete or abstract); hey, whoa, oh no
   • 1908, Erik Dan Bergman, Litet gladare om jag får be!, page 42:

     — Det är odrägligt med fruntimmer, utfor Alfred, de skrämma bort fisken med sitt evinnerliga snatter! . . . Men hvar i alla dar är bleckfisken? undrade han och flyttade sig nervöst på sitt bräde, jag såg den alldeles nyss! . . . Aj . . . aj . . . o . . . u . . . ö . . . ajajajajaj!
     Alfred flög upp.
     — Jaså Alfred satt på den! sade Elin.

     — Womenfolk are insufferable, burst out Alfred; they scare away the fish with their everlasting chatter!… But where in heaven’s name is the octopus? he wondered, shifting nervously on his board, I saw it but a moment ago!… Ow… ow… ooh… uh… ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!
     Alfred sprang to his feet.
     — Oh, Alfred was sitting on it! said Elin.

   • 2021 August 18, Sebastian Sandström, Skoob Salihi, “Jolin om nya bachelor-säsongen: "En flock pirayor i en pöl" [Jolin on the new Bachelor season: "A pack of piranhas in a puddle"]”, in P4 Väst, Sveriges Radio:

     "Om jag säger så här, 20 brudar i en villa, ajajajaj. Jag älskar dem men det blir en flock pirayor i en pöl", säger Jolin Sikstörm.

     "Let me put it this way: 20 girls in one villa, oh no no no. I love them, but it turns into a pack of piranhas in a puddle," says Jolin Sikström.

   • 2025 May 30, Aron Sigblad, “Ekonomen om BNP-siffran: ”Aj aj aj – sänk räntan” [Economist on GDP figure: "Oh no no no – cut the interest rate"]”, in Omni:

     BNP-siffran för det första kvartalet blev klart sämre än väntat, lyder domen från SEB:s seniorekonom Robert Bergqvist. ”Ajajaj - sänk räntan[…] Thedéen ligger rejält fel i BNP-prognosen”. skriver han i ett inlägg på X.

     The GDP figure for the first quarter came in clearly worse than expected, according to SEB's senior economist Robert Bergqvist. "Oh no no no – cut the interest rate […] Thedéen is way off in the GDP forecast," he writes in a post on X.

   Ajajajaj! Se upp för kanten!

   Whoa whoa whoa! Watch the edge!

3. aye; yea; a word expressing assent, for example in nautical contexts.

Derived terms

• aj aj, kapten
• ajabaja (“tut tut”)

References

• aj in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• aj in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)

Anagrams

• ja

Zhuang

Pronunciation

• (Standard Zhuang) IPA^(key): /ʔa˥/
• Tone numbers: a³
• Hyphenation: aj

Etymology 1

From Proto-Tai *ʔaːꟲ (“to open (the mouth)”). Cognate with Thai อ้า (âa).

Verb

aj (Sawndip forms 吖 or 哑 or 𮤴 or 呵 or 㕶, 1957–1982 spelling aз)

1. to open; to spread open

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Adverb

aj (1957–1982 spelling aз)

1. (dialectal) about to; soon

   Synonym: yaek