kai

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See also: Kai, kài, kāi, kǎi, -kai, ka'i, και, καί, and kái

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Maori kai.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ

Noun[edit]

kai (uncountable)

  1. (New Zealand, informal) food
    • 1995, Graeme Williams, The soc.culture.new-zealand FAQ:
      Actually, I'm not sure I like these new hangis using the foil, it tends to stop the juices getting through to the stones and I reckon the hangi kai is drier to the palate.
    • 2003, RK, “Maori TV”, in nz.general (Usenet):
      i.e. they'll spend the first four hours enthusiastic as can be, then get bored, want some kai, go down to the local fish and chip shop & bottle store & spend the rest of the episode telling drunken stories of how they used to steal from the "pakeha that owned the store on the corner" and about days spent down at the social welfare office.
    • 2003, Carmen, “Is there really a censor in NZ?!”, in nz.general (Usenet):
      Got to go now and get some kai.

See also[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Chinese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Mandarin 凱子／凯子 (kǎizi).

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

kai

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, dated) foolish

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, dated) idiot; fool

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. (Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, dated) to be foolish; to act like an idiot

See also[edit]

Estonian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From German Kai, from Dutch kaai, from French quai.

Noun[edit]

kai (genitive kai, partitive kaid)

  1. quay

Declension[edit]

Declension of kai (ÕS type 26/koi, no gradation)
singular plural
nominative kai kaid
accusative nom.
gen. kai
genitive kaide
partitive kaid kaisid
illative kaisse kaidesse
inessive kais kaides
elative kaist kaidest
allative kaile kaidele
adessive kail kaidel
ablative kailt kaidelt
translative kaiks kaideks
terminative kaini kaideni
essive kaina kaidena
abessive kaita kaideta
comitative kaiga kaidega

Faroese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Danish kaj, from Old French kay, cail (modern French quai), from Gaulish cagiíum (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“hedge”)).

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

kai f (genitive singular kaiar, plural kaiir)

  1. (colloquial) quay

Declension[edit]

Declension of kai
f2 singular plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative kai kaiin kaiir kaiirnar
accusative kai kaiina kaiir kaiirnar
dative kai kaiini kaium kaiunum
genitive kaiar kaiarinnar kaia kaianna

Synonyms[edit]

Finnish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Probably shortened from kaiketi.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈkɑi̯(ˣ)/, [ˈkɑ̝i̯(ʔ)]
  • Rhymes: -ɑi
  • Syllabification(key): kai

Adverb[edit]

kai

  1. probably, I guess (that) (used to express a possibility or belief of what's going to happen)
    Synonyms: ehkä, kenties, luultavasti, otaksuttavasti, arvatenkin, varmaankin, mahdollisesti, kaiketi
    Tulee kai sade.
    It will probably rain.
    Minun pitää kai lähteä.
    I guess I'll have to go.
    Lasseko tämän rikkoi? -Niin kai.
    Was it Lasse who broke this? -Probably yes.
  2. Used to indicate derision or disbelief.
    Luulisi hänen osaavan. -Kyllä kai!
    One would think he can. -Yes, but I doubt!
    Annas minä autan! -Niin kai, et sinä ole ennenkään auttanut.
    Let me help you! -Bah, you haven't been much of a help so far.
  3. Used as a fortifier, or to confirm.
    Synonyms: toki, tottahan
    Totta kai minä sinua uskon!
    Of course I believe you!
    Kai sinä tämän tiedät!
    You know this, don't you!

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Guinea-Bissau Creole[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Portuguese cair. Cognate with Kabuverdianu kai.

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. to fall

Hausa[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Proto-Afroasiatic [Term?]. Cognates include Mangas ka, Polci kii, Miship ɡɨ.

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

kai

  1. you (2nd person singular subject pronoun)

See also[edit]

  • mákà (2nd person singular indirect object enclitic pronoun)
  • ká (2nd person singular independent object pronoun)
  • -kà (2nd person singular possessive enclitic pronoun)

Etymology 2[edit]

Cognate with Bole kóːʔiː, Galambu kā, Gera ká, Deno kàá, Mangas kaam, Goemai kāː, Polci gaam.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

kâi m (plural kāwunā̀, possessed form kâin)

  1. head

Hawaiian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Polynesian *tai (compare with Maori tai), from Proto-Oceanic *tasik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tasik (compare with Malay tasik).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈkai̯/, [ˈkɐj], [ˈkɛj] (rapid speech)

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. sea
    i kai ― towards the sea
    makai ― on the seaside, toward the sea, in the direction of the sea
    o kai ― of the lowland, of the sea, seaward
    nā kānaka o kai ― shore dwellers
  2. salt water
  3. seaside, area near the sea, lowlands
  4. tide, current in the sea
  5. gravy, sauce, dressing, soup, broth

See also[edit]

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. (stative) to be insipid, brackish, tasteless

Interjection[edit]

kai

  1. my, how much!; how very! how terrific!
    kai ka nani! ― how beautiful!
    kai ke kolohe! ― oh, how mischievous!

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  • Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “kai”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press

Japanese[edit]

Romanization[edit]

kai

  1. Rōmaji transcription of かい

Kabuverdianu[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Portuguese cair.

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. to fall

Karajá[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

kai

  1. you, second-person singular pronoun

Usage notes[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

References[edit]

  • Michael Dunn, Gender determined dialect variation, in The Expression of Gender (edited by Greville G. Corbett)
  • David Lee Fortune, Gramática Karajá: um Estudo Preliminar em Forma Transformacional

Khumi Chin[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *kay, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ngay. Cognates include Hakka 𠊎 (ngài) and Burmese ငါ (nga).

Pronunciation[edit]

Pronoun[edit]

kai

  1. I

See also[edit]

Khumi Chin personal pronouns
singular plural
1st person kai kaiceL
kaicheI
2nd person nang nangceL
nangcheI
3rd person äni äniceL
änicheI
Varieties of Khumi: L Lemi Chin, I Khimi Chin

References[edit]

  • R. Shafer (1944) “Khimi Grammar and Vocabulary”, in Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, volume 11, number 2, page 419
  • K. E. Herr (2011) The phonological interpretation of minor syllables, applied to Lemi Chin‎[2], Payap University, page 44

Lithuanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *kai; compare Old Prussian kāi (“when”), Latvian kâ(i) (“when”), Old Church Slavonic цѣ (cě, “and also, besides”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷoy; compare Ancient Greek ποῖ (poî, “whereto”). Perhaps ultimately the locative of Proto-Indo-European *kʷos, kʷis (“question particle”); see kas (“what”). Also, compare with tai (“that”).[1]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (conjunction): IPA(key): /kɐɪˑ/
  • (particle): IPA(key): /kɐɪ/

Conjunction[edit]

kaĩ

  1. (in relative clauses) when, while, as

Particle[edit]

kai (unstressed)

  1. (in conjunction with interrogative words) some, a certain (suggesting the complement is a known entity, but withheld)
    kai kàs - (a certain) something
    Àš táu kai ką̃ turiù - I have something for you.
    kai kadà - sometimes, in some cases

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Derksen, Rick (2015) Etymological Dictionary of the Baltic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 13), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 217

Livvi[edit]

Adverb[edit]

kai

  1. all

Mandarin[edit]

Romanization[edit]

kai

  1. Nonstandard spelling of kāi.
  2. Nonstandard spelling of kǎi.
  3. Nonstandard spelling of kài.

Usage notes[edit]

  • 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.

Maori[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic *kani, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən (compare with Malay makan), from Proto-Austronesian *kaən (compare with Tagalog kain).

Verb[edit]

kai (passive form kainga)

  1. to eat (consume)

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. food

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • → English: kai

Middle English[edit]

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. Alternative form of keye (“key”)

North Frisian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Frisian kēi. Cognates include West Frisian kaai.

Noun[edit]

kai m (plural kaier)

  1. (Föhr-Amrum) key

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Norwegian Bokmål Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nb

Etymology[edit]

From Old French kay, cail (modern French quai), from Gaulish cagiíum (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“hedge”)).

Noun[edit]

kai m or f (definite singular kaia or kaien, indefinite plural kaier, definite plural kaiene)

  1. quay, wharf, dock

Derived terms[edit]

Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]

Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nn

Etymology[edit]

From Old French kay, cail (modern French quai), from Gaulish cagiíum (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“hedge”)).

Noun[edit]

kai f or m (definite singular kaia or kaien, indefinite plural kaier or kaiar, definite plural kaiene or kaiane)

  1. quay, wharf, dock

Derived terms[edit]

Papiamentu[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Portuguese cair and Spanish caer and Kabuverdianu kai.

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. to fall

Derived terms[edit]

Rapa Nui[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. to eat (consume)

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. food

Derived terms[edit]

Adverb[edit]

kai

  1. not

Southeastern Tepehuan[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Proto-Uto-Aztecan *kapsi.

Noun[edit]

kai (plural kaakai)

  1. thigh
Derived terms[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

Cognate with Northern Tepehuan káídɨ, O'odham kai.

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. seed

Etymology 3[edit]

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. preterite of kaayaꞌ

References[edit]

  • Willett, Elizabeth, et al. (2016) Diccionario tepehuano de Santa María Ocotán, Durango (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 48)‎[3], electronic edition, Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 100

Sundanese[edit]

Romanization[edit]

kai

  1. Romanization of ᮊᮄ

Tok Pisin[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Polynesian, from Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic *kani, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. (transitive) to eat (consume)

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. food

See also[edit]

Tokelauan[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [ˈka.i]
  • Hyphenation: ka‧i

Etymology 1[edit]

From Proto-Polynesian *kai. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻai and Samoan 'ai.

Verb[edit]

kai (plural kakai)

  1. (transitive) to eat
  2. (intransitive) to eat
  3. (fishing, intransitive) to bite

Etymology 2[edit]

From Proto-Polynesian *kai. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻai and Samoan 'ai.

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. (cricket) run
  2. (cricket) goal, point
  3. (cricket) score

Etymology 3[edit]

From Proto-Polynesian *kai. Cognates include Tobanga kai and Nukuoro gai.

Particle[edit]

kai

  1. Indicates disapproval and/or dissatisfaction.
  2. Indicates regret that something didn't happen.
Synonyms[edit]

References[edit]

  • R. Simona, editor (1986), Tokelau Dictionary‎[4], Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 142

Tongan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

kai

  1. food

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. To eat

Derived terms[edit]

Tuvaluan[edit]

Adverb[edit]

kai

  1. ever

Zou[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

kai

  1. (intransitive) to rise, ascend, go up

Etymology 2[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

kái

  1. askew
  2. low

Etymology 3[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

kài

  1. (transitive) pull, drag, draw

References[edit]

  • Lukram Himmat Singh (2013) A Descriptive Grammar of Zou, Canchipur: Manipur University, page 63
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