vai

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: Vai, vaî, văi, vải, and va'i

Translingual[edit]

Symbol[edit]

vai

  1. (international standards) ISO 639-2 & ISO 639-3 language code for Vai.

English[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Noun[edit]

vai

  1. (grammar) Initialism of verb animate intransitive: an intransitive verb that agrees with an animate subject.

Coordinate terms[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

Transliteration of Bengali ভাই (bhai).

Noun[edit]

vai (plural vais) (Bangladesh, West Bengal, chiefly Benglish)

  1. Alternative spelling of bhai.

Anagrams[edit]

Anuta[edit]

vai

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

  1. 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

  1. today

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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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]

  • IPA(key): /ˈʋɑi̯/, [ˈʋɑ̝i̯]
  • Rhymes: -ɑi
  • Syllabification(key): vai

Conjunction[edit]

vai

  1. (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.

Derived terms[edit]

See also[edit]

Adverb[edit]

vai (colloquial)

  1. (interrogative adverb) is that so?
    Tulee vai?
    Oh, [he/she/it] is coming?

Further reading[edit]

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

  1. 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

  1. inflection of ir:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative
    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
  2. inflection of ir:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading[edit]

  • “ir” in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval, SLI - ILGA 2006–2022.

Guaraní[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

vai

  1. ugly, unsightly
  2. bad, evil, unpleasant

Inflection[edit]

Ingrian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Finnic *vai. Cognate with Finnish vai and Estonian või.

Pronunciation[edit]

Conjunction[edit]

vai

  1. 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]

  • IPA(key): /ˈvaj/
  • Rhymes: -aj
  • Hyphenation: vài

Etymology 1[edit]

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb[edit]

vai

  1. inflection of andare:
    1. second-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative

Etymology 2[edit]

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb[edit]

vai

  1. inflection of vaiare:
    1. second-person singular present indicative
    2. first/second/third-person singular present subjunctive
    3. third-person plural imperative

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]

IPA(key): [vài]

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

Conjunction[edit]

vai

  1. 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
  2. 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...
  3. 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

  1. 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)

  1. 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

  1. 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. ↑ 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]

  • IPA(key): /ˈʋɑi̯/
  • Hyphenation: va‧i

Conjunction[edit]

vai

  1. 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?
  2. 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

  1. 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

  1. or

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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. water

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

  1. 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]

  • (Kautokeino) IPA(key): /ˈvaj/

Conjunction[edit]

vai

  1. or (in questions, for mutually exclusive possibilities)
  2. so that

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

  1. imperative of vaie

Nuguria[edit]

Noun[edit]

vai

  1. water

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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)

Pileni[edit]

Noun[edit]

vai

  1. water

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]

 

Verb[edit]

vai

  1. inflection of ir:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative

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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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]

  • IPA(key): /vaj/
  • Audio(file)

Interjection[edit]

vai

  1. alas, woe

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

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)
  2. crake

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]

  • IPA(key): /ˈva.i/
  • Hyphenation: và‧i

Noun[edit]

vai (only plural)

  1. troubles, problems, hardship, misfortune
  2. (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]

  • IPA(key): /ˈva.i/
  • Hyphenation: và‧i

Verb[edit]

vai

  1. inflection of jiri:
    1. second-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative

References[edit]

  1. ^ vai in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

South Efate[edit]

Noun[edit]

vai

  1. water

References[edit]

  • William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)

South Marquesan[edit]

Noun[edit]

vai

  1. water

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

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References[edit]

  • William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)

Etymology 2[edit]

Compare Maori wai.

Pronoun[edit]

vai

  1. who

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

  1. 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

  1. 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]

  • IPA(key): [ˈva.i]
  • Hyphenation: va‧i

Noun[edit]

vai

  1. water
  2. vessel for water
  3. medicine

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

  1. 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

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)
  2. lake

Synonyms[edit]

References[edit]

  • An Introduction to Tuvaluan (1999, →ISBN

Uneapa[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Oceanic *pai.

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

vai

  1. 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

  1. or

References[edit]

  • Zajceva, N. G., Mullonen, M. I. (2007) “или, либо”, in Uz’ venä-vepsläine vajehnik / Novyj russko-vepsskij slovarʹ [New Russian–Veps Dictionary]‎[6], Petrozavodsk: Periodika

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]

Noun[edit]

vai • (𣘾, 𦠘, 𦢳)

  1. (anatomy) a shoulder
  2. (television, film, theater) a role; a part
    vai chính ― a main/lead role
    vai phụ ― a supporting role

See also[edit]

Derived terms

Votic[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Finnic *vai.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Luutsa, Liivtšülä) IPA(key): /ˈvɑi̯/, [ˈvɑi̯]
  • Rhymes: -ɑi̯
  • Hyphenation: vai

Conjunction[edit]

vai

  1. or

Interjection[edit]

vai

  1. oh, (so)... (mainly to start interrogative clauses)

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
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=vai&oldid=79029629"