chai

See also: Chai, chái, chài, chāi, and chǎi

English

Etymology 1

Noun

chai (plural chais)

1. A female gypsy.

Coordinate terms

• chal

Etymology 2

From Hindi-Urdu चाय (cāy) / چای (cāy), from Persian چای (and Turkish çay, and cognates) from (deprecated template usage) [etyl]  茶 (chá). Doublet of tea; see that page for extended history.

Pronunciation

• enPR: chī, IPA^(key): /tʃaɪ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aɪ

Noun

chai (usually uncountable, plural chais)

1. short for masala chai, a beverage made with black teas, steamed milk and sweet spices, based loosely on Indian recipes.

Synonyms

• chai latte, chai tea, masala chai

Related terms

• cha
• chai latte
• masala chai

Translations

spiced black tea — see masala chai

Anagrams

• AHCI, Achi, Chia, chia

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Caló

Etymology

Inherited from Romani ćhaj.

Noun

chai f (plural chais)

1. girl
2. (antiphrastic) harlot, prostitute

References

• “chai” in J. Tineo Rebolledo, A Chipicalli (La Llengua Gitana), Granada: Gómez de la Cruz, 1900, →OCLC, page 32.
• “chai” in Francisco Quindalé, Diccionario gitano, Madrid: Oficina Tipográfica del Hospicio.
• “chai” in Vocabulario : Caló - Español, Portal del Flamenco y Universidad.

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Jamaican Creole

Verb

chai

1. (Maroon Spirit Language) Carry.

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Mandarin

Romanization

chai

1. Nonstandard spelling of chāi.
2. Nonstandard spelling of chái.
3. Nonstandard spelling of chǎi.
4. Nonstandard spelling of chài.

Usage notes

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

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Min Nan

For pronunciation and definitions of chai – see 知 (“to know; to understand; to comprehend; to cause to know; to tell; to inform; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 知).

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Navajo

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [tʃʰɑj]

Noun

-chai (inalienable, e.g., shichai "my grandfather/grandson", bichai "her/his/their grandfather/grandson")

1. maternal grandfather, mother's father, grandson (from daughter), daughter's son

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Norman

Alternative forms

• chaer (Guernsey)

Etymology

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

Noun

chai f (uncountable)

1. (France, Jersey) flesh

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Swahili

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Hindi चाय (cāy).

Noun

chai (n class, plural chai)

1. tea
2. (Tanzania) breakfast

   Synonyms: kiamsha kinywa, kifungua kinywa

Derived terms

• chai ya rangi
• mchai

Etymology 2

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

Noun

chai (n class, plural chai)

1. a bribe (something given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to dishonesty)

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Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕaːj˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕaːj˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [caːj˧˧]
• Homophone: trai

Noun

(classifier cái) chai • (𥑂)

1. a bottle
2. (slang) one million dongs

   Synonym: củ

Adjective

chai

1. (of skin) callous

   vết chai

   a callus

   bị chai tay

   to have calluses on one's hand

   chai sạn

   callous; apathetic