kai
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Maori kai.
Pronunciation
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -aɪ
Noun
kai (uncountable)
- (New Zealand, informal) food
- 1995, Graeme Williams, The soc.culture.new-zealand FAQ
- Actually, I'm not sure I like these new hangis using the foil, it tends to stop the juices getting through to the stones and I reckon the hangi kai is drier to the palate.
- 2003, "RK", Maori TV (on newsgroup nz.general)
- i.e. they'll spend the first four hours enthusiastic as can be, then get bored, want some kai, go down to the local fish and chip shop & bottle store & spend the rest of the episode telling drunken stories of how they used to steal from the "pakeha that owned the store on the corner" and about days spent down at the social welfare office.
- 2003, "Carmen", Is there really a censor in NZ?! (on newsgroup nz.general)
- Got to go now and get some kai.
- 1995, Graeme Williams, The soc.culture.new-zealand FAQ
Anagrams
- AKI, KIA, Kia, aik
Chinese
Etymology
From Mandarin 凱子／凯子 (kǎizi).
Pronunciation
Adjective
kai
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, dated) foolish
Noun
kai
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, dated) idiot; fool
Verb
kai
- (Hong Kong Cantonese, slang, dated) to be foolish; to act like an idiot
See also
- kai子 (kaai1 zi2)
Estonian
Etymology
From German Kai, from Dutch kaai, from French quai.
Noun
kai (genitive kai, partitive kaid)
- quay
Declension
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | kai | kaid |
| accusative | kai | kaid |
| genitive | kai | kaide |
| partitive | kaid | kaisid |
| illative | kaisse | kaidesse |
| inessive | kais | kaides |
| elative | kaist | kaidest |
| allative | kaile | kaidele |
| adessive | kail | kaidel |
| ablative | kailt | kaidelt |
| translative | kaiks | kaideks |
| terminative | kaini | kaideni |
| essive | kaina | kaidena |
| abessive | kaita | kaideta |
| comitative | kaiga | kaidega |
Faroese
Etymology
Borrowed from Danish kaj, from Old French kay, cail (modern French quai), from Gaulish cagiíum (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“hedge”)).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kʰaiː/
- Rhymes: -aiː
Noun
kai f (genitive singular kaiar, plural kaiir)
- (colloquial) quay
Declension
| Declension of kai | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| f2 | singular | plural | ||
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
| nominative | kai | kaiin | kaiir | kaiirnar |
| accusative | kai | kaiina | kaiir | kaiirnar |
| dative | kai | kaiini | kaium | kaiunum |
| genitive | kaiar | kaiarinnar | kaia | kaianna |
Synonyms
- bryggja
- atløgubryggja
Finnish
Etymology
Probably shortened from kaiketi.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkɑi̯(ˣ)/, [ˈkɑi̯(ʔ)]
- Rhymes: -ɑi
- Syllabification(key): kai
Adverb
kai
- Used to express a possibility or belief of what's going to happen; probably.
- Synonyms: ehkä, kenties, luultavasti, otaksuttavasti, arvatenkin, varmaankin, mahdollisesti, kaiketi
- Tulee kai sade.
- It will probably rain.
- Minun pitää kai lähteä.
- I guess I'll have to go.
- Lasseko tämän rikkoi? -Niin kai.
- Was it Lasse who broke this? -Probably yes.
- Used to indicate derision or disbelief.
- Luulisi hänen osaavan. -Kyllä kai!
- One would think he can. -Yes, but I doubt!
- Annas minä autan! -Niin kai, et sinä ole ennenkään auttanut.
- Let me help you! -Bah, you haven't been much of a help so far.
- Used as fortifier, or to confirm.
- Synonyms: toki, tottahan
- Totta kai minä sinua uskon!
- Of course I believe you!
- Kai sinä tämän tiedät!
- You know this, don't you!
Anagrams
- Aki, aik.
Guinea-Bissau Creole
Etymology
From Portuguese cair. Cognate with Kabuverdianu kai.
Verb
kai
- to fall
Hausa
Etymology 1
From Proto-Afroasiatic [Term?]. Cognates include Mangas ka, Polci kii, Miship ɡɨ.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kái/
- (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA(key): [kéi]
Pronoun
kai
- you (2nd person singular pronoun)
Etymology 2
Cognate with Bole kóːʔiː, Galambu kā, Gera ká, Deno kàá, Mangas kaam, Goemai kāː, Polci gaam.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kâi/
- (Standard Kano Hausa) IPA(key): [kâi]
Noun
kâi m (plural kāwunā̀, possessed form kâin)
- head
Hawaiian
Etymology
From Proto-Polynesian *tai (compare with Maori tai), from Proto-Oceanic *tasik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tasik (compare with Malay tasik).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkai̯/, [ˈkɐj]
- (rapid speech) IPA(key): [ˈkɛj]
Noun
kai
- sea
- i kai ― towards the sea
- makai ― on the seaside, toward the sea, in the direction of the sea
- o kai ― of the lowland, of the sea, seaward
- nā kānaka o kai ― shore dwellers
- salt water
- seaside, area near the sea, lowlands
- tide, current in the sea
- gravy, sauce, dressing, soup, broth
See also
- wai
- moana
Verb
kai
- (stative) to be insipid, brackish, tasteless
Interjection
kai
- my, how much!; how very! how terrific!
- kai ka nani! ― how beautiful!
- kai ke kolohe! ― oh, how mischievous!
See also
- kainō
- keu
References
- “kai” in the Hawaiian Dictionary, Revised and Enlarged Edition, University of Hawaii Press, 1986
Japanese
Romanization
kai
- Rōmaji transcription of かい
Kabuverdianu
Etymology
From Portuguese cair.
Verb
kai
- to fall
Karajá
Pronoun
kai
- you, second-person singular pronoun
Usage notes
- This term is used in both women's and men's speech.
Derived terms
- kaiboho
References
- Michael Dunn, Gender determined dialect variation, in The Expression of Gender (edited by Greville G. Corbett)
- David Lee Fortune, Gramática Karajá: um Estudo Preliminar em Forma Transformacional
Karelian
Adverb
kai
- all
Khumi Chin
Etymology
From Proto-Kuki-Chin *kay, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *ngay. Cognates include Hakka 𠊎 (ngài) and Burmese ငါ (nga).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kai̯˥/
Pronoun
kai
- I
See also
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | kai | kaiceL kaicheI |
| 2nd person | nang | nangceL nangcheI |
| 3rd person | äni | äniceL änicheI |
| Varieties of Khumi: L Lemi Chin, I Khimi Chin | ||
References
- R. Shafer (1944), “Khimi Grammar and Vocabulary”, in Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, volume 11, issue 2, page 419
- K. E. Herr (2011) The phonological interpretation of minor syllables, applied to Lemi Chin, Payap University, page 44
Lithuanian
Etymology
From Proto-Balto-Slavic *kai; compare Old Prussian kāi (“when”), Latvian kâ(i) (“when”), Old Church Slavonic цѣ (cě, “and also, besides”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷoy; compare Ancient Greek ποῖ (poî, “whereto”). Perhaps ultimately the locative of Proto-Indo-European *kʷos, kʷis (“question particle”); see kas (“what”). Also, compare with tai (“that”).[1]
Pronunciation
- (conjunction): IPA(key): /kɐɪˑ/
- (particle): IPA(key): /kɐɪ/
Conjunction
kaĩ
- (in relative clauses) when, while, as
Particle
kai (unstressed)
- (in conjunction with interrogative words) some, a certain (suggesting the complement is a known entity, but withheld)
- kai kàs - (a certain) something
- Àš táu kai ką̃ turiù - I have something for you.
- kai kadà - sometimes, in some cases
- kai kàs - (a certain) something
Derived terms
- kai kada
- kai kas
- kai katras
- kai koks
- kai kur
- kai kuris
Related terms
- tai
- kas
- kad
- kaip
See also
- kada
- kaž-, nors, bet
References
- Derksen, Rick (2015) Etymological Dictionary of the Baltic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 13), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 217
Mandarin
Romanization
kai
- Nonstandard spelling of kāi.
- Nonstandard spelling of kǎi.
- Nonstandard spelling of kài.
Usage notes
- English transcriptions of Mandarin speech often fail to distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without the appropriate indication of tone.
Maori
Etymology
From Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic *kani, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən (compare with Malay makan), from Proto-Austronesian *kaən (compare with Tagalog kain).
Verb
kai (passive form kainga)
- to eat (consume)
Noun
kai
- food
Related terms
- kaimoana
Descendants
- → English: kai
Middle English
Noun
kai
- Alternative form of keye (“key”)
North Frisian
Etymology
From Old Frisian kēi. Cognates include West Frisian kaai.
Noun
kai m (plural kaier)
- (Föhr-Amrum) key
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
From Old French kay, cail (modern French quai), from Gaulish cagiíum (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“hedge”)).
Noun
kai m or f (definite singular kaia or kaien, indefinite plural kaier, definite plural kaiene)
- quay, wharf, dock
Derived terms
- ferjekai, fergekai
- kaikant
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
From Old French kay, cail (modern French quai), from Gaulish cagiíum (“enclosure”), from Proto-Celtic *kagyom (“pen, enclosure”) (compare Welsh cae (“hedge”)).
Noun
kai f or m (definite singular kaia or kaien, indefinite plural kaier or kaiar, definite plural kaiene or kaiane)
- quay, wharf, dock
Derived terms
- ferjekai
- kaikant
Papiamentu
Etymology
From Portuguese cair and Spanish caer and Kabuverdianu kai.
Verb
kai
- to fall
Rapa Nui
Etymology
From Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.
Verb
kai
- to eat (consume)
Noun
kai
- food
Derived terms
- pātia kai
Adverb
kai
- not
Southeastern Tepehuan
Etymology 1
From Proto-Uto-Aztecan *kapsi.
Noun
kai (plural kaakai)
- thigh
Derived terms
- kairam
Etymology 2
Cognate with Northern Tepehuan káídɨ, O'odham kai.
Noun
kai
- seed
Verb
kai
- preterite of kaayaꞌ
References
- Willett, Elizabeth, et al. (2016) Diccionario tepehuano de Santa María Ocotán, Durango (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 48), electronic edition, Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 100
Sundanese
Romanization
kai
- Romanization of ᮊᮄ
Tok Pisin
Etymology
From Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.
Verb
kai
- (transitive) to eat (consume)
Noun
kai
- food
See also
- kaikai
Tokelauan
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈka.i/
- Hyphenation: ka‧i
Etymology 1
From Proto-Polynesian *kai. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻai and Samoan 'ai.
Verb
kai (plural kakai)
- (transitive) to eat
- (intransitive) to eat
- (fishing, intransitive) to bite
Etymology 2
From Proto-Polynesian *kai. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻai and Samoan 'ai.
Noun
kai
- (cricket) run
- (cricket) goal, point
- (cricket) score
Etymology 3
From Proto-Polynesian *kai. Cognates include Tobanga kai and Nukuoro gai.
Particle
kai
- Indicates disapproval and/or dissatisfaction.
- Indicates regret that something didn't happen.
Synonyms
- (regret): kaina
References
- R. Simona, editor (1986) Tokelau Dictionary, Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 142
Tongan
Etymology
From Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ka.i/
Noun
kai
- food
Verb
kai
- To eat
Derived terms
- kai maʻamaʻa
Tuvaluan
Adverb
kai
- ever
Zou
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kai̯˧/
Verb
kai
- (intransitive) to rise, ascend, go up
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kai̯˧˥/
Adjective
kái
- askew
- low
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kai̯˧˩/
Verb
kài
- (transitive) pull, drag, draw
References
- Lukram Himmat Singh (2013) A Descriptive Grammar of Zou, Canchipur: Manipur University, page 63