Wiktionary

ai

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ai"
Languages (73)
English
Akei • Albanian • Amblong • Angal Enen • Apalaí • Aragonese • Araki • Australian Kriol • Catalan • Chuukese • Corsican • Dadibi • Dubu • Dutch • Estonian • Finnish • French • Friulian • Galician • Galoli • Gilbertese • Gun • Hawaiian • Hiri Motu • Iban • Ingrian • Italian • Japanese • Kalasha • Kendayan • Kiowa • Kott • Kuna • Ladin • Ladino • Latin • Latvian • Leti • Lithuanian • Lombard • Manchu • Mandarin • Mbyá Guaraní • Middle English • Naga Pidgin • Norman • North Frisian • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Occitan • Pitjantjatjara • Pohnpeian • Portuguese • Rapa Nui • Rohingya • Romanian • Seri • Sranan Tongo • Sumbawa • Tày • Tetum • Tok Pisin • Tokelauan • Torres Strait Creole • Venetan • Vietnamese • Volapük • Welsh • West Makian • Yami • Ye'kwana • Zou
Page categories

English

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An ai, Bradypus tridactylus

Etymology 1

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Originated 1685–95, from Brazilian Portuguese aí, from Old Tupi.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɑ.i/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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ai (plural ais or ai)

  1. A type of three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus, endemic to forests of southern Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil.
Synonyms
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See also

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  • unau (two-toed sloth)

References

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Further reading

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Etymology 2

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Contraction of aight (which itself is a contraction of all right).

Pronunciation

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Contraction

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ai

  1. (slang, US) All right.
    Ai, let's go.

Anagrams

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Akei

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Noun

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ai

  1. water

References

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  • Sidney Herbert Ray, A comparative study of the Melanesian Island languages (1926), page 351

Albanian

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Albanian *a-ei (compound of proclitic particle *a and an ancient demostrative *ei), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ey combined with Proto-Indo-European *ís (“he, this (one)”). Compare Latin is, German er, Lithuanian jìs, Sanskrit अयम् (ayám)).

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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ai m sg (accusative atë, dative atij, ablative atij)

  1. he

Declension

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forms of ai
ai (3rd person masculine singular)
nominative ai
ablative atij / tij
full form clitic
accusative atë e
dative atij i
possessive adjective possessive pronoun
i tij i tiji

See also

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Albanian personal pronouns
singular plural
1st person unë ne
2nd person ti ju
3rd person m ai ata
f ajo ato

Pronoun

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ai

  1. that

Declension

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declension of ai
singular plural
masculine feminine masculine feminine
nominative ai ajo ata ato
accusative atë atë ata ato
genitive/dative/ablative atij asaj atyre atyre

Amblong

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Noun

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ai

  1. water

Further reading

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  • Darrell T. Tryon, New Hebrides languages: an internal classification (1976)

Angal Enen

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Noun

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ai

  1. banana

References

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  • transnewguinea.org, citing Franklin KJ. 1975. Comments on Proto-Engan. In SA Wurm, Ed. New Guinea Area Languages and Language Study: Papuan languages and the New Guinea linguistic scene. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, pp. 263-275.'

Apalaí

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Noun

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ai

  1. penis

Aragonese

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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ai

  1. ah!, alas!
  2. woe!
  3. expresses pain, sorrow, or surprise

Araki

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ai

Etymology

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From Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun

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ai

  1. water (clear liquid H₂O)
  2. river, lake

References

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Australian Kriol

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Etymology 1

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From English eye.

Noun

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ai

  1. eye
  2. headlight of a car
  3. seed

Etymology 2

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From English I.

Pronoun

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ai

  1. I

Etymology 3

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From English high.

Adjective

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ai

  1. high, tall

Catalan

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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ai

  1. ouch (pain), ooh (pain)

Noun

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ai m (plural ais)

  1. ooh (pain)

Chuukese

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Determiner

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ai

  1. First person singular general possessive; my (used with general-class objects)
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Chuukese possessive determiners
Small objects, concepts Large objects, living things Suffix
Singular First person ai nei -ei
Second person omw, om noum -om
Third person an noun -an
Plural First person äm (exclusive)
ach (inclusive)		 nöu̇m (exclusive)
nöüch (inclusive)		 -em (exclusive)
-ach (inclusive)
Second person ämi, ami noumi -emi
Third person ar nour -er

Corsican

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈaj/
  • Hyphenation: ai

Verb

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ai

  1. second-person singular indicative present of avè

References

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  • “avè” in Aiaccinu: Cunghjugatori corsu

Dadibi

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Noun

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ạị

  1. water

Synonyms

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References

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Dubu

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Noun

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ai

  1. water

Further reading

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Dutch

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Portuguese ai, from Old Tupi ai.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ai m (plural ais)

  1. pale-throated sloth, Bradypus tridactylus
    Synonym: drievingerige luiaard

Estonian

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Interjection

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ai

  1. ow, ouch

Synonyms

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Finnish

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Etymology

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Compare Estonian ai, Ingrian ai, Karelian ai, Ludian ai, Veps ai, Votic ai, and Swedish aj, Norwegian aj, Latvian aj. Perhaps natural; tracing an origin is practically impossible.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɑi̯/, [ˈɑ̝i̯]
  • Rhymes: -ɑi
  • Syllabification(key): ai

Interjection

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ai

  1. ouch!
  2. oh!
    Ai, se olitkin sinä!
    Oh, it was you!
  3. (colloquial, interrogative particle) Oh? As in...?
    "Käytkö kaupassa?" "Ai, ruokakaupassa?"
    "Will you go to the shop?" "Oh, the food shop?"

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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French

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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ai

  1. first-person singular present indicative of avoir
    J’ai un chien.
    I have a dog.

Anagrams

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Friulian

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Etymology

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From Latin allium.

Noun

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ai m (plural ais)

  1. garlic

Galician

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Etymology

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From Old Galician-Portuguese ay (attested since the 13th century).

Pronunciation

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Interjection

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ai

  1. ouch! expresses pain
  2. ooh! expresses pain
  3. oh! expresses concern
    • 1812, Antonio Benito Fandiño, A Casamenteira:
      Ai tontiño, porque iñoras
      o qu’he mantér casa e vida,
      que por ben que estea sortida,
      hai faltas a todas horas.
      O segundo, que teu pai
      pensa com’home de ben,
      e así por vergonza ten
      unha nora que non trai.
      Orasme, sobr’esto hai,
      que a dous parizós que teña,
      non tendes donde vos veña,
      cando ela non colla un mal.
      Oh, silly, because you don't know
      what it is to keep house and life,
      no matter how well stocked it is,
      there's lack at all hours.
      Second, your father
      thinks like a good man,
      and to his shame he has
      a daughter-in-law who doesn't bear.
      However, on this matter,
      with just two childbirths that she has,
      you'll be left resourceless,
      and that if she doesn't get sick.

References

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Galoli

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Etymology

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Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kahiw.

Noun

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ai

  1. tree
  2. wood

Gilbertese

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Etymology

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From Proto-Oceanic *api, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *api, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apuy, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hapuy, from Proto-Austronesian *Sapuy.

Noun

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ai

  1. fire

Gun

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Gbe *a-yĩ́ (“earth”). Cognates include Fon ayǐ, Saxwe Gbe nyixɔ́, Adja anyi. Perhaps related to Yoruba ayé

Pronunciation

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Noun

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aí (plural aí lẹ́) (Nigeria)

  1. ground

Derived terms

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Hawaiian

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Etymology

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From Proto-Polynesian *qai, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qasiq.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈai̯/, [ˈɐj], [ˈɛj] (rapid speech)

Verb

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ai

  1. to have sexual intercourse; to copulate

Hiri Motu

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Pronoun

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ai

  1. 1st-person plural pronoun exclusive: we, us (but not you)

See also

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Hiri Motu personal pronouns
singular plural
1st person lau ai (exclusive)
ita (inclusive)
2nd person oi umui
3rd person ia idia

Iban

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Iban Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia iba

Etymology

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From Proto-Malayic *air, Proto-Malayo-Chamic *air, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ai

  1. water

Further reading

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  • Adelaar, K. A. (1992) Proto-Malayic: The reconstruction of its phonology and parts of its lexicon and morphology‎[2], Canberra: The Australian National University
  • Asmah Haji Omar (1977) “The Iban Language”, in The Sarawak Museum Journal, volume XXV, number 46, pages 81-100
  • Smith, A. (2017) The Languages of Borneo: A Comprehensive Classification, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Ingrian

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Etymology

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Ultimately a natural sound. Compare Finnish ai and Estonian ai.

Pronunciation

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Interjection

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ai

  1. Exclamation of pain or frustration: ouch! oh!
    ai voi ― oh-oh

References

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  • Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 5

Italian

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Alternative forms

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  • a' (truncation)

Pronunciation

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Contraction

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ai

  1. contraction of a i; to the, at the

Anagrams

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Japanese

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Romanization

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ai

  1. Rōmaji transcription of あい
  2. Rōmaji transcription of アイ

Kalasha

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Pronoun

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ai

  1. Alternative spelling of ábi (sense 1).

Kendayan

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Etymology

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From Proto-Malayic *air, Proto-Malayo-Chamic *air, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ai

  1. water

Further reading

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  • Smith, A. (2017) The Languages of Borneo: A Comprehensive Classification, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Kiowa

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Pronunciation

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Letter

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ai (upper case Ai)

  1. A letter of the Kiowa alphabet.

See also

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Kott

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Etymology

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Inherited from Proto-Yeniseian *axʷ (“I”). Compare Assan aj (“I”), Arin aj (“I”), and Pumpokol ad (“I”).

Pronoun

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ai

  1. I (first-person singular subjective)
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Kuna

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Noun

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ai

  1. friend

Ladin

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Etymology

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a +‎ i

Contraction

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ai

  1. at or to the (+ plural noun)

Ladino

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Adverb

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ai (Latin spelling, Hebrew spelling אאי)

  1. Alternative form of aí

Latin

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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ai

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of aiō
    • c. 270 BCE – c. 201 BCE, Gnaeus Naevius, Fragments Palliatae.125:[1]
      An nā́ta est spṓnsa praégnās? Vél aï vél negā!
      Was the fiancée born pregnant? Answer ”yes” or ”no”!

Usage notes

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This form was no longer in common use in Classical Latin and is attested only once, in a quotation in a grammatical treatise.

References

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  1. ^ PHI Latin Texts

Further reading

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  • “ai”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • “ai”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎[3], London: Macmillan and Co.
    • do you think so? are you in earnest: ain tu?

Latvian

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Interjection

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ai

  1. ouch!
  2. oh!

Leti

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Etymology

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From Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apuy, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hapuy, from Proto-Austronesian *Sapuy.

Noun

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ai

  1. fire

Lithuanian

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Etymology

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Compare Russian ой (oj, “ow!”).

Pronunciation

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ái: IPA(key): /a͡ɪ/

aĩ: IPA(key): /ɐ͡ɪ/

Interjection

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ái! or aĩ!

  1. ow!, ah!, (expresses pain, fear or surprise)
  2. oi!, hey! (used to attract someone's attention)

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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words derived from "ai"

Lombard

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Noun

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ai

  1. Alternative form of aj (“garlic”)

Manchu

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Romanization

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ai

  1. Romanization of ᠠᡳ

Mandarin

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Romanization

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ai

  1. Nonstandard spelling of āi.
  2. Nonstandard spelling of ái.
  3. Nonstandard spelling of ǎi.
  4. Nonstandard spelling of ài.

Usage notes

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  • 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.

Mbyá Guaraní

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Adjective

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ai

  1. (to be) bitter

Conjugation

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    Possessed forms of ai
singular plural
1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person
inclusive 		1st person
exclusive 		2nd person 3rd person
xerai nderai hai nhanderai orerai penderai hai

Noun

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ai

  1. wound, injury

Middle English

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Pronoun

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ai

  1. Alternative form of þei (“they”)

Naga Pidgin

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Etymology

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Inherited from Assamese আই (ai).

Noun

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ai

  1. mother, mom

Norman

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Verb

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ai

  1. (Guernsey) first-person singular present indicative of aver

North Frisian

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old Norse eigi.

Adverb

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ai

  1. (Mooring) not

Norwegian Bokmål

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Interjection

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ai

  1. used to express surprise

References

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Norwegian Nynorsk

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Interjection

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ai

  1. used to express surprise

References

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Occitan

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Verb

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ai

  1. first-person singular present indicative of aver

Pitjantjatjara

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Interjection

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ai

  1. huh
  2. geez
  3. what
  4. hey

References

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  • "ai" in Cliff Goddard (1992) Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara to English Dictionary, 2nd edition
  • Ninti Ngapartji

Pohnpeian

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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ai

  1. no way!

Portuguese

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Etymology

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Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

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  • Rhymes: -aj
  • Hyphenation: ai

Interjection

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ai

  1. ouch (expression of physical pain)
    Ai! Pisei um prego! ― Ouch! I stepped on a nail!
  2. oh (expression of concern)

Derived terms

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Rapa Nui

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Etymology

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From Proto-Polynesian *hai. Cognates include Tongan hai and Maori wai.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈa.i/
  • Hyphenation: a‧i

Pronoun

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ai

  1. who?

References

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  • Paulus Kieviet (2017) A grammar of Rapa Nui‎[4], Berlin: Language Science Press, →ISBN, page 404

Rohingya

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Verb

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ai

  1. come

Romanian

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Article

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ai (masculine plural possessive)

  1. of
    Niște prieteni ai lui sunt interesanți.
    Some friends of his are interesting.
See also
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  • al (masculine/neuter singular)
  • a (feminine singular)
  • ale (feminine/neuter plural)

Etymology 2

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From Latin allium / alium.

Noun

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ai m (uncountable)

  1. (regional) garlic
    Synonym: usturoi
Declension
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declension of ai (singular only)
singular
m gender indefinite articulation definite articulation
nominative/accusative (un) ai aiul
genitive/dative (unui) ai aiului
vocative aiule
Derived terms
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See also
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Etymology 3

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Inflected form of avea (“to have”).

Verb

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ai

  1. second-person singular present indicative of avea
    (you) have
    Ai vreun prieten în România?
    Do you have any friends in Romania?
  2. inflection of avea:
    1. second-person singular present subjunctive
    2. second-person singular imperative

Etymology 4

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From an old or proto-Romanian form ae, from Latin habēs.[1]

Verb

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ai

  1. (tu) ai (modal auxiliary, second-person singular form of avea, used with past participles to form perfect compus tenses)
    (you) have...
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Etymology 5

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Probably from a Vulgar Latin *eas, from Latin habēbās.

Verb

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(tu) ai (modal auxiliary, second-person singular form of avea, used with infinitives to form conditional tenses)

  1. (you) would
    Ai fi murit dacă ți-aș fi spus.
    You would have died if I'd told you.
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References

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  1. ^ http://www.lingv.ro/RRL%201-2%202009%20Nevaci,%20Todi.pdf

Seri

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Etymology 1

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Noun

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ai (plural aaita)

  1. his father
Declension
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Declension of ai
singular plural
Absolutive hapee —
1st person hii —
2nd person — —
3rd person ai aaita
Derived terms
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  • queaa (“to have as father”)

Etymology 2

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Adverb

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ai

  1. (rare) still (used with nominalized third person verbs)

References

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  • Moser, Mary B., Marlett, Stephen A. (2010) Comcaac quih yaza quih hant ihiip hac: cmiique iitom - cocsar iitom - maricaana iitom, 2nd edition, Hermosillo: Plaza y Valdés Editores, →ISBN, page 43.

Sranan Tongo

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Alternative forms

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  • ay (unofficial)

Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From English eye.

Noun

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ai

  1. eye

Etymology 2

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From English aye, ay.

Interjection

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ai

  1. yes

References

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  • Wilner, John, editor (2003-2007), “ai”, in Languages of Suriname, 5th edition, SIL International, Sranan-English Dictionary

Sumbawa

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Etymology

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From Proto-Malayo-Sumbawan *wair, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ.

Noun

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ai

  1. water

References

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Tày

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Noun

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ai

  1. Synonym of cò niêng
Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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Verb

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ai (埃)

  1. to lean on

Etymology 3

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Noun

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ai

  1. blow (of wind); steam;
  2. breath
    lẹo ai ― out of breath
  3. smell; odor
    đâm ai ― to smell
    ai nắc ― strong smell
    ai hom ― pleasant smell
    ai mên ― rancid smell
    lẹo ai ― odorless

References

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  • Lương Bèn (2011) Từ điển Tày-Việt‎[5][6] (in Vietnamese), Thái Nguyên: Nhà Xuất bản Đại học Thái Nguyên
  • Lục Văn Pảo, Hoàng Tuấn Nam (2003) Hoàng Triều Ân, editor, Từ điển chữ Nôm Tày‎[7] (in Vietnamese), Hanoi: Nhà xuất bản Khoa học Xã hội
  • Léopold Michel Cadière (1910) Dictionnaire Tày-Annamite-Français‎[8] (in French), Hanoi: Impressions d'Extrême-Orient

Tetum

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Etymology

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From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kahiw, compare Tagalog kahoy.

Noun

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ai

  1. tree
  2. wood

Tok Pisin

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Etymology

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From English eye.

Noun

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ai

  1. (anatomy) eye
    • 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Port Moresby: Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Jenesis 3:5:
      Sapos yutupela i kaikai pikinini bilong dispela diwai, bai ai bilong yutupela i op na yutupela i kisim save long wanem samting i gutpela, na wanem samting i nogut, na bai yutupela i kamap wankain olsem God. God i save long dispela, olsem na em i tambuim yutupela long kaikai pikinini bilong dispela diwai.”
      →New International Version translation
  2. hole, opening, lid
  3. tip

Derived terms

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Tokelauan

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈa.i]
  • Hyphenation: a‧i

Etymology 1

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From Proto-Polynesian *hai. Cognates include Hawaiian ai and Samoan ai.

Pronoun

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ai

  1. who?

Etymology 2

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

Particle

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ai

  1. Anaphoric particle used to refer to an adverbial clause; there, then
Derived terms
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References

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  • R. Simona, editor (1986), Tokelau Dictionary‎[9], Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 1

Torres Strait Creole

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Etymology 1

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From English I.

Pronoun

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ai

  1. I (see also mi)

Etymology 2

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From English eye.

Noun

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ai

  1. eye

Venetan

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Noun

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ai

  1. plural of aio

Vietnamese

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Etymology

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From Proto-Vietic *ʔeː (“who”). Cognate with Tho [Cuối Chăm] ʔeː¹.

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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ai • (埃)

  1. who
    Bạn là ai?
    Who are you?
    Ai (mà) biết.
    Who knows? / How should I know?
  2. whoever
  3. someone else
  4. one, a person
    • 2005, Nguyễn Ngọc Tư, "Cuối mùa nhan sắc" (in Cánh đồng bất tận), Trẻ publishing house
      Người ở chùa, người bán vé số, người ngủ công viên, người hát rong, ít ai có nhà để về.
      Some live at the temple, some sell lottery tickets, some sleep in parks, some play music in the streets; few have a home to go back to.
  5. (rhetorical) nobody

Usage notes

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  • The interrogative pronoun ai is used for a person. When ai functions as the subject of the question, it is placed at the beginning of the question.
Ai có ô tô? ― Who has a car?
  • When functioning as the predicate, it can either follow or predate the linking verb là.
Hải là ai? ― Who is Hải?
Ai là Hải? ― Who is Hải?
  • When functioning as the object, it is placed after the verb.
Nga vẽ ai? ― Whom is Nga drawing?

See also

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Derived terms

Further reading

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Volapük

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Adverb

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ai

  1. always
  2. at all times
  3. constantly (habitually)
  4. ever (always)
  5. habitually

Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Welsh

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Etymology

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May derive from a (interrogative particle) +‎ yw (“is, are”) or from or via the synonymous ae.

Pronunciation

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Particle

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ai

  1. interrogative particle (used when a non-verbal element is fronted for emphasis)
    Synonym: ife
    Ai ef yw dy dad?
    Is he your father?
  2. whether, if (used when the subordinate clause has a non-verbal element fronted for emphasis)
    Ni wn ai ef yw dy dad.
    I do not know whether he is your father.

Usage notes

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  • Used before a non-verbal element fronted for emphasis. Unemphatic initial verbs, on the other hand, employ the interrogative particle a.
  • This word is found in formal language. As an initial interrogative particle, it is often dropped altogether in colloquial language or replaced with ife in some southern dialects.
  • Likewise, with the meaning "whether", this may be dropped colloquially. An alternative construction influenced by English is to replaced the ai with os (“if”) followed by the appropriate dialect-specific indicating an emphatic subordinate clause, namely taw in south Wales and mai or na in the north.

References

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  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “ai”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies

West Makian

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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ai

  1. (intransitive) to come back, return
  2. (intransitive) to depart
    naai sito? ― where did you depart from?

Conjugation

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Conjugation of ai (action verb)
singular plural
inclusive exclusive
1st person taai maai aai
2nd person naai faai
3rd person inanimate iai daai
animate
imperative naai, ai faai, ai

References

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  • Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎[10], Pacific linguistics (as ay)

Yami

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Noun

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ai

  1. (anatomy) foot

Ye'kwana

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Variant orthographies
ALIV ai
Brazilian standard ai
New Tribes ai

Etymology

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From Proto-Cariban [Term?]. Compare Apalaí ae, Hixkaryana yaye, Macushi yapai, and Waiwai yay.

Pronunciation

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Postposition

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ai

  1. through, by; indicates motion by way of a non-aquatic object of class 1

Usage notes

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A possessed noun that is the object of this postposition does not take the possessed suffix -dü. The postposition can thus combine with nouns referring to body parts and parts of objects to form more complex postpositions/relational nouns.

See also

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Ye'kwana primitive postpositions
generic location specific location or goal pathway
object class 1 awö aka ai
object class 2 tawö taka tai
aquatic object kwawö kwaka kwai

References

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  • Cáceres, Natalia (2011) Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎[11], Lyon, pages 267–272

Zou

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Ai.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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ái

  1. crab

References

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  • Lukram Himmat Singh (2013) A Descriptive Grammar of Zou, Canchipur: Manipur University, page 40
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