English

Proper noun

Vai

1. An ethnic group of Liberia and Sierra Leone.
2. The Niger-Congo language of the Vai people of Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Translations

Anagrams

• IVA, Iva, via, viâ

English

Alternative forms

• VAI

Noun

vai

1. (linguistics) A verb animate intransitive: an intransitive verb that agrees with an animate subject.

Coordinate terms

• vii
• vta
• vti

Anagrams

• IVA, Iva, via, viâ

Anuta

vai

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

• 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

Alternative forms

• vuai

Etymology

From Latin hodie. Compare Friulian vuê, Catalan avui.

Adverb

vai

1. today

East Futuna

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Emae

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Fijian

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (compare Indonesian pari, Malay pari), from Proto-Austronesian.

Noun

vai

1. ray (marine fish with a flat body, large wing-like fins, and a whip-like tail)

Finnish

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *vai.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: vai
• Rhymes: -ɑi
• IPA^(key): /ʋɑi̯/

Adverb

vai

1. (interrogative adverb, colloquial) is that so?

   Tulee vai?

   Oh, [he/she/it] is coming?

Conjunction

vai

1. (coordinating; in question clauses) or

   Onko se suuri vai pieni?

   Is it big or small?

Usage notes

• 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.

See also

• tai

Anagrams

• iva, via

Futuna-Aniwa

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Galician

Verb

vai

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

Italian

Verb

vai

1. second-person singular present of andare
2. second-person singular imperative of andare

Anagrams

• avi, IVA, via

Latvian

Etymology 1

A borrowing 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]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [vài]

Conjunction

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

• jeb

Particle

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

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

From Proto-Indo-European *wai ‎(“suffer, be miserable”). Cognates include Lithuanian vái, vaĩ, Old High German wē, Old English wā, Latin vae, German weh, English woe.^[1]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [vāī], IPA^(key): [vài], IPA^(key): [vaî] (depending on situational intonation)

Interjection

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

1. 1 2 Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “vai”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7

Lojban

Cmavo

vai

1. (cardinal, hexadecimal digit and number) fifteen

Rafsi

vai

1. rafsi of vajni.

Mangarevan

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

• Edward Tregear, A Dictionary of Mangareva (or Gambier Islands) (1899)
• William Churchill, The Polynesian Wanderings: Tracks of the Migration Deduced (1911)

Niuafo'ou

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

• ABVD

Niuean

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

North Efate

Noun

vai

1. water

References

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

North Marquesan

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Northern Sami

Etymology

Related to Finnish vai.

Conjunction

vai

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

Norwegian Bokmål

Verb

vai

1. imperative of vaie

Nuguria

Noun

vai

1. water

References

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

Nukuoro

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

• 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

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

Penrhyn

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Pileni

Noun

vai

1. water

References

• A Grammar of Vaeakau-Taumako (2011, ISBN 3110238268)

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• vay (obsolete)
• vae (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• (Brazil, Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈvaj/
• Hyphenation: vai

Verb

vai

1. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present indicative of ir
2. second-person singular (tu, sometimes used with você) affirmative imperative of ir
3. (informal, followed by the infinitive) will (used to express the third person singular future tense)
   • 2003, Lya Wyler (translator), J. K. Rowling (English author), Harry Potter e a Ordem da Fênix (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Rocco, page 643:

     Ele nunca vai reparar na gente [...]

     He will never notice us [...]

Synonyms

• (forms third person singular future tense): -á

Rapa Nui

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Rarotongan

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Romanian

Etymology

Probably an expressive creation. Compare Latin vae, Albanian vaj, Italian guai, Spanish ay, English woe.

Interjection

vai

1. alas, woe

Derived terms

• văita

Samoan

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)\
2. crake

References

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

South Efate

Noun

vai

1. water

References

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

South Marquesan

Noun

vai

1. water

References

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

Tahitian

Etymology 1

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Etymology 2

Compare Maori wai.

Pronoun

vai

1. who

Takuu

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

Tikopia

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

• Raymond Firth, Mervyn McLean, Tikopia Songs: Poetic and Musical Art of a Polynesian People (1990)

Tokelauan

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

Tongan

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

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

Tuvaluan

Etymology

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

vai

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)

References

• An Introduction to Tuvaluan (1999, ISBN 9829027023)

Veps

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *vai.

Conjunction

vai

1. or

References

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

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [vaːj˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [vaːj˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [vʲaːj˧˥]

Noun

vai

1. shoulder
2. rank, status
3. part, role