tai

See also: Appendix:Variations of "tai"

Languages (40)

Translingual • English

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Aklanon • 'Are'are • Aromanian • Balinese • Cebuano • Faroese • Fijian • Finnish • Futuna-Aniwa • Japanese • Javanese • Kapampangan • Karelian • Kokoda • Latgalian • Latvian • Lithuanian • Makasar • Mandarin • Mansaka • Maori • Middle English • Naga Pidgin • North Moluccan Malay • Polish • Pukapukan • Rapa Nui • Romanian • Southeastern Tepehuan • Spanish • Sranan Tongo • Swahili • Tausug • Ternate • Vietnamese • Welsh • Ye'kwana • Zou

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Page categories

Translingual

Symbol

tai

1. (international standards) ISO 639-2 & ISO 639-5 language code for Tai languages.

English

Etymology

From Japanese 鯛 (たい).

Noun

tai

1. A fish, the Japanese bream.

Related terms

• taiyaki

Anagrams

• AIT, IAT, ITA, TIA, Tia, ait, ita, tia

Aklanon

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqi, compare Malay tahi.

Noun

tai

1. excrement, feces

'Are'are

Etymology 1

From Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *isa, *əsa, from Proto-Austronesian *isa, *əsa, *asa.

Cognate with Maori tahi (“one”), Hawaiian kahi (“one”).

Numeral

tai

1. one

Etymology 2

Appears to be cognate with Maori tui (“to sew; to string or thread together”), Hawaiian kui (“needle, pin; to string or thread together”).

Verb

tai

1. to sew

Synonyms

• eeta

References

• Kateřina Naitoro, A Sketch Grammar of 'Are'are: The Sound System and Morpho-Syntax (2013)

Aromanian

Alternative forms

• taljiu, talju

Etymology

From Late Latin taliō, from Latin talea. Compare Romanian tăia, tai.

Verb

tai first-singular present indicative (past participle tãiate)

1. Alternative form of talj

Related terms

• tãiari
• tãiat
• tãiture
• nitãiat / nitãiate

See also

• dãsic
• astai

Balinese

Romanization

tai

1. Romanization of ᬢᬳᬶ

Cebuano

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqi, from Proto-Austronesian *Caqi. Compare Tagalog tae.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtaʔi/ [ˈt̪a.ʔɪ]
• Hyphenation: ta‧i

Noun

tai

1. feces
2. dung; animal excrement

Adjective

tai

1. (vulgar) despicable

Interjection

tai!

1. (vulgar) shit!

Faroese

Etymology

From Thai ไทย (tai).

Noun

tai n (genitive singular tais, uncountable)

1. Thai language

Synonyms

• tailendskt

Fijian

Etymology

From Proto-Central Pacific *taci, from Proto-Oceanic *tasik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tasik.

Noun

tai

1. coast
2. sea-shore

Finnish

Alternative forms

• tahi (mostly archaic; see the below usage notes)

Etymology

From earlier tahi (*tahdik), probably originally tah- +‎ -i (lative suffix), the stem of which is that of tahtoa (and also tahansa, tahallaan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɑi̯(ˣ)/, [ˈt̪ɑ̝i̯(ʔ)]
• Rhymes: -ɑi
• Syllabification^(key): tai

Conjunction

tai

1. (coordinating; in affirmative clauses) or

   Sinä tai minä. ― You or me.

   Tajusin rakastuneeni, halusin tai en. ― I realised I'd fallen in love, whether I wanted to or not.

Usage notes

• On the differences between tai and vai:
  • 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 if you ate bread, fruit, bread and fruit, or nothing, while the latter asks which you ate, the bread, or the fruit. vai may only be used in interrogative clauses.
  • Outside interrogative clauses, an explicit or may be expressed using joko ... tai (technically only for two options, but sometimes used also with more than two).
• (tai/taikka/tahi):
  • In legal language, there exists a difference between tai and taikka. taikka is considered "stronger" than tai. For example, an attribute specified before a list will apply to every item with tai, but not with taikka. Generally speaking tai is seen as binding things closer together than taikka.

    tieteellinen tai historiallinen tutkimus taikka tilastointi ― scientific or historical research; or compiling statistics = any of the following: (a) scientific research, (b) historical research, (c) compiling statistics (not necessarily scientific or historical)

  • Colloquially tai and taikka are largely interchangeable and their use depends on the speaker.
  • Particularly in older legal texts, tahi is sometimes used as well, with the scale being tai < tahi < taikka (from weakest to strongest). tahi is otherwise now only used dialectally as an alternative form of tai.

Synonyms

• taikka, tahikka (less common; see the above usage notes)
• tahi (chiefly archaic; see the above usage notes)
• eli (archaic)

Noun

tai

1. OR (logic gate or connector)

Declension

Rarely inflected; if inflection is necessary, it is used as the first component in a compound, such as TAI-portti ("OR gate").

Inflection of tai (Kotus type 18/maa, no gradation)
nominative		tai	tait
genitive		tain	taiden taitten
partitive		taita	taita
illative		taihin	taihin
		singular	plural
nominative		tai	tait
accusative	nom.	tai	tait
	gen.	tain
genitive		tain	taiden taitten
partitive		taita	taita
inessive		taissa	taissa
elative		taista	taista
illative		taihin	taihin
adessive		tailla	tailla
ablative		tailta	tailta
allative		taille	taille
essive		taina	taina
translative		taiksi	taiksi
abessive		taitta	taitta
instructive		—	tain
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of tai (Kotus type 18/maa, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative taini taini accusative nom. taini taini gen. taini genitive taini taideni taitteni partitive taitani taitani inessive taissani taissani elative taistani taistani illative taihini taihini adessive taillani taillani ablative tailtani tailtani allative tailleni tailleni essive tainani tainani translative taikseni taikseni abessive taittani taittani instructive — — comitative — taineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative taisi taisi accusative nom. taisi taisi gen. taisi genitive taisi taidesi taittesi partitive taitasi taitasi inessive taissasi taissasi elative taistasi taistasi illative taihisi taihisi adessive taillasi taillasi ablative tailtasi tailtasi allative taillesi taillesi essive tainasi tainasi translative taiksesi taiksesi abessive taittasi taittasi instructive — — comitative — tainesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative taimme taimme accusative nom. taimme taimme gen. taimme genitive taimme taidemme taittemme partitive taitamme taitamme inessive taissamme taissamme elative taistamme taistamme illative taihimme taihimme adessive taillamme taillamme ablative tailtamme tailtamme allative taillemme taillemme essive tainamme tainamme translative taiksemme taiksemme abessive taittamme taittamme instructive — — comitative — tainemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative tainne tainne accusative nom. tainne tainne gen. tainne genitive tainne taidenne taittenne partitive taitanne taitanne inessive taissanne taissanne elative taistanne taistanne illative taihinne taihinne adessive taillanne taillanne ablative tailtanne tailtanne allative taillenne taillenne essive tainanne tainanne translative taiksenne taiksenne abessive taittanne taittanne instructive — — comitative — tainenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative tainsa tainsa accusative nom. tainsa tainsa gen. tainsa genitive tainsa taidensa taittensa partitive taitaan taitansa taitaan taitansa inessive taissaan taissansa taissaan taissansa elative taistaan taistansa taistaan taistansa illative taihinsa taihinsa adessive taillaan taillansa taillaan taillansa ablative tailtaan tailtansa tailtaan tailtansa allative tailleen taillensa tailleen taillensa essive tainaan tainansa tainaan tainansa translative taikseen taiksensa taikseen taiksensa abessive taittaan taittansa taittaan taittansa instructive — — comitative — taineen tainensa

Derived terms

• taikka

 

See also

• vai

Further reading

• “tai”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja‎^[2] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-03

Anagrams

• -ita

Futuna-Aniwa

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tasik.

Noun

tai

1. the sea
2. salt water

Japanese

Romanization

tai

1. Rōmaji transcription of たい
2. Rōmaji transcription of タイ

Javanese

Romanization

tai

1. Romanization of ꦠꦲꦶ

Kapampangan

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tahiq, from Proto-Austronesian *CaqiS.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /təˈiʔ/ [təˈiʔ]
• Hyphenation: ta‧i

Verb

taî

1. to sew

Conjugation

Conjugation for tai ( mang- )

Affix	Root word		Trigger
mang-	tai		actor
Aspect			Future
Infinitive	Perfective	Imperfective
manai	menai	manai	manai

Conjugation for tai (-an )

Affix	Root word		Trigger
-an	tai		object
Aspect			Future
Infinitive	Perfective	Imperfective
taian	tei	taraian	taian

Derived terms

• manai
• taian

 

Karelian

Pronoun

tai

1. this
2. that

Kokoda

Noun

tai

1. (Tarof) water

Synonyms

• taya (Kasuweri)

References

• Cornelis L. Voorhoeve, Languages of Irian Jaya Checklist (1975, Canberra: Pacific Linguistics), page 103

Latgalian

Etymology

Cognate with Lithuanian taip.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈtài̯]
• Hyphenation: tai

Adverb

tai

1. so (in this way)

Particle

tai

1. yes, that's right

Synonyms

• nui

References

• Nicole Nau (2011) A short grammar of Latgalian, München: LINCOM GmbH, →ISBN

Latvian

Pronoun

tai

1. to that; dative singular feminine of tas
2. in that; locative singular masculine of tas
3. in that; locative singular feminine of tas

Lithuanian

Etymology

Derived from an unattested neuter form *ta, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *tas, taˀ, ta (“that”); see tas for more. Evidence for a Common Baltic neuter form *ta (matching Proto-Slavic *to) can be observed in Old Prussian stas, sta(i), sta and the Latvian particle ta-. The suffix -aĩ is apparently formed by analogy with kai (“when, while”); see this entry for more.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /tɐɪ/

Conjunction

taĩ

1. (subordinating) that, then (in that case); introduces a complement to the main clause

   Jéi nóri, taĩ ir̃ reĩkia. - If you want to, then you should

   Vìskas, kõ norė́jau, taĩ tìk išsimiegóti. - All I wanted was to have a good night's sleep.

2. (coordinating, correlative) first … then …

   Taĩ víenas, taĩ kìtas ateĩna. - First one came, then another.

Particle

taĩ

1. (emphatic) puts additional emphasis on the subject of the clause; now that's … !; so that's … !

   Taĩ và kur̃ jìs! - So that's where he is!

   Õ dabar̃ taĩ àš bėdojè. - And now it's me who's in trouble.

Pronoun

taĩ (indeclinable)

1. (demonstrative) that (refers to an object or idea understood by both parties)

   Taĩ įdomù - That's interesting

   Kàs taĩ yrà? - What is that?

2. (demonstrative) that, what (the first element of a relative clause, may be omitted)

   Taĩ, kàs išlieka ― What (=that which) remains.

   Gal jaũ laĩkas darýti taĩ, kàs patiñka mán. - Perhaps it's time I did what I like for once.

Derived terms

• taigi
• tiktai
• šitai

Related terms

• kai
• tas
• tad
• tada

Makasar

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqi, from Proto-Austronesian *Caqi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈtai]

Noun

tai (Lontara spelling ᨈᨕᨗ)

1. feces
2. discharge, dirt (in compounds)

Derived terms

• tai bassi
• tai laso
• tai mata
• tai toli

 

Mandarin

Romanization

tai (tai⁵／tai⁰, Zhuyin ˙ㄊㄞ)

1. Hanyu Pinyin reading of 呔

Romanization

tai

1. Nonstandard spelling of tāi.
2. Nonstandard spelling of tái.
3. Nonstandard spelling of tǎi.
4. Nonstandard spelling of tài.

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.

Mansaka

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqi, compare Malay tahi.

Noun

tai

1. excrement, feces

Etymology 2

From tahi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tahiq.

Verb

tai

1. to sew

Maori

Etymology

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

Noun

tai

1. sea

Derived terms

• tai āniwhaniwha

See also

• moana

References

• Tregear, Edward (1891) Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary, Wellington, New Zealand: Lyon and Blair, pages 445-6

Middle English

Pronoun

tai

1. Alternative form of þei (“they”)

Naga Pidgin

Etymology

From Assamese তাই (tai, “she”), from Early Assamese তাই (tai, “she”), from Magadhi Prakrit 𑀢𑀸𑀏 (tāe, “by her”), from Sanskrit तया (tayā, “by her (instrumental case)”). Cognate with Sylheti ꠔꠣꠁ (tai).

Pronoun

tai

1. he, she

   Lazarus nam ekjon manu thakise. Tai laga duijon boinikhan thakise.

   A man names Lazarus lived. His two sisters lived.

North Moluccan Malay

Etymology

From Classical Malay تاهي (tahi), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqi, from Proto-Austronesian *Caqi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tai̯/

Noun

tai

1. feces, excrement

References

• Betty Litamahuputty (2012) Ternate Malay: Grammar and Texts

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈta.i/
• Rhymes: -ai
• Syllabification: ta‧i

Verb

tai

1. third-person singular present of taić

Pukapukan

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *tasi.

Numeral

tai

1. one, first, single

   Synonym: tayi

Etymology 2

From Proto-Polynesian *tai, from Proto-Oceanic *tasik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tasik.

Noun

tai

1. sea

   Ka wao au ki tai.

   I will jump into the sea.

2. ocean

   Na wō te kau tāne ki tai yī kakai.

   The men have gone to the ocean to fish for tuna.

3. tide

   Na wōwonu te tai i te mōtāyao, ko kikī i te ola lua nei.

   The tide was full in the morning, it is out now at two o'clock.

Derived terms

• taí (“lagoon side of the island or village”)
• tukutai (“beach, lagoon shore”)

Etymology 3

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

Verb

tai

1. to carve, shape wood
2. to hew

Derived terms

• taitai (“cutting, hewing”)

Further reading

• Te Pukamuna | Pukapuka Dictionary

Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *tai, from Proto-Oceanic *tasik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tasik.

Noun

tai

1. sea

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [taj]

Verb

tai

1. first/second-person singular present indicative/subjunctive of tăia

Southeastern Tepehuan

Etymology

Cognate with Northern Tepehuan taí, O'odham tai, Huichol tái, Cora taíj, Classical Nahuatl tletl, Mayo tajji.

Noun

tai

1. fire

References

• R. de Willett, Elizabeth, et al. (2016) Diccionario tepehuano de Santa María Ocotán, Durango (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 48)‎^[3] (in Spanish), electronic edition, Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 159

Spanish

Noun

tai m (uncountable)

1. Tai

Sranan Tongo

Etymology

From English tie.

Verb

tai

1. to tie, to bind

Derived terms

• taitai
• titei

Swahili

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Noun

tai (n class, plural tai)

1. eagle

Synonyms

• kipungu

Derived terms

• tai mzoga (“vulture”)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English tie.

Noun

tai (n class, plural tai)

1. tie (article of clothing)

Tausug

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqi.

Pronunciation

• (Sinūgan Parianun) IPA^(key): /taʔi/ [t̪aˈʔi]
• Rhymes: -i
• Syllabification: ta‧i

Noun

tai (Sulat Sūg spelling تَئِ)

1. excrement, feces

Ternate

tai

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈta.i]

Noun

tai

1. the fish Lutjanus lemniscatus

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈta.i]

Verb

tai

1. (transitive) to stare at

Conjugation

Conjugation of tai
	Singular	Plural
	Inclusive	Exclusive
1st	totai	fotai	mitai
2nd	notai	nitai
3rd	Masculine	otai	itai, yotai†
Feminine	motai
Neuter	itai
† - archaic

References

• Rika Hayami-Allen (2001) A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh

Vietnamese

Etymology

From Proto-Vietic *saːj.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [taːj˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [taːj˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [taːj˧˧]

Noun

(classifier cái) tai • (腮, 𦖻, 哉, 𦖱, 顋, 𣌒)

1. (anatomy) ear

Derived terms

• bạt tai
• bông tai
• dái tai
• đầu cua tai nheo
• hoa tai
• lỗ tai
• mang tai
• nặng tai
• tai nghe
• tóc tai
• trái tai
• vành tai

 

Anagrams

• tia

Welsh

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tai̯/
• Rhymes: -ai̯

Noun

tai m pl

1. plural of tŷ

Verb

tai

1. third-person singular counterfactual conditional colloquial of bod (used after pe (“if”), which can also be omitted)

   (pe) tai hi’n hapus ― if she were happy

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
tai	dai	nhai	thai
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Ye'kwana

Alternative forms

• chai (allomorph after i)

Etymology

From Proto-Cariban [Term?]. Compare Apalaí tae, Hixkaryana taye, Macushi tapai.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [taj]

Postposition

tai

1. through, by; indicates motion by way of a non-aquatic object of class 2

Usage notes

This postposition cannot take person markers to indicate its object.

See also

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

• Cáceres, Natalia (2011) “tai”, in Grammaire Fonctionnelle-Typologique du Ye’kwana‎^[4], Lyon, pages 267–272, 451

Zou

Verb

tai

1. run

References

• http://www.languageinindia.com/feb2013/zouphonologyfinal.pdf