May en · PROPN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /meɪ/
- mā
- (California) audio monophthongized
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂sder.? Latin Maia Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Italic *-os Archaic Latin -os Latin -us Latin Maiusder. Old French maibor. Middle English May English May From Middle English May, Mai, from Old French mai, from Latin Maius (“Maia's month”), from Maia, a Roman earth goddess.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) The fifth month of the Gregorian calendar, following April and preceding June.
At a signing ceremony in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on May 29, the presidents of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan ratified the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) into existence. An EEU modeled on the European Union was first mooted back in 1994 by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, but took off only after his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, seized upon its potential as a Moscow-centered, Asia-oriented alternative to the EU.
2014 July 1, Frank Jacobs, “Welcome to Stanistan”, in Foreign Policy, archived from the original on 03 Aug 2023:All in the merry month of May, / When green leaves they was springing, / This young man on his death-bed lay, / For the love of Barbara Allen.
Before 1789, "Bonny Barbara Allen," traditional ballad, collected in Francis James Child and George Lyman Kittridge (1886), The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, vol. II, part II, p. 277Holonyms: calendar year; year
In May, White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller told reporters the Trump administration is “looking at” suspending the writ of habeas corpus for migrants under claims of an “invasion.”
2025 August 6, Rachel Dobkin, “Significant parts of the Constitution were quietly removed from the Congress website”, in The Independent:
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(countable, uncountable) A female given name, usually pet name for Mary and Margaret, reinforced by the month and plant meaning.
[…] I will not send Owen's Lily May to the almshouse." "Lily―what?" demanded Mrs. Morley rather sharply, for she was half provoked with what she mentally called Amy's whim of keeping the outcast child when she might send it to the asylum. "Lily May," said Amy, smiling. "Her name is Mary, and we called her first Little Mary, and then Little May. But Owen calls her Lily May."
1856, E. D. E. N. Southworth, The Widow's Son, T. B. Peterson, published 1867, page 210:It's an awkward name: Isamay, pronounced Is-a-may. Isa is my paternal grandmother's name (shortened from Isabel) and May my maternal grandmother's (it comes, somehow, from Margaret). The amalgamation is, as you see, strictly alphabetical. Life, I feel, would have been much easier if they had chosen Maybel.
2010, Margaret Forster, Isa & May, Chatto & Windus, →ISBN, page 5:Their parents named them June and May because their birthdays occurred in those months. […] May was like the time of year in which she had been born, changeable, chilly and warm by turns, sullen yet able to know and show loveliness that couldn't last.
1982, Ruth Rendell, The Fever Tree and Other Stories, Hutchinson, →ISBN, page 119:Sahaiʔa May Talbot was born on Feb. 15, 2014. However, on her birth certificate, her name is spelled Sahai'a because the Northwest Territories government only allows the Roman alphabet to be used on official documents.
2016 June 13, Hilary Bird, “Baby named Sahaiʔa prompts changes to Vital Statistics Act”, in CBC News, archived from the original on 13 Jun 2016:
- (countable, uncountable) A surname from Middle English.
- (countable, uncountable) A surname from Middle English. ▸ Theresa May, former British prime minister.
- (countable, uncountable) A number of places in the United States: ▸ A former settlement in Amador County, California.
- (countable, uncountable) A number of places in the United States: ▸ An unincorporated community in Lemhi County, Idaho.
- (countable, uncountable) A number of places in the United States: ▸ An unincorporated community in McDonald County, Missouri.
- (countable, uncountable) A number of places in the United States: ▸ A small town in Harper County, Oklahoma.
- (countable, uncountable) A number of places in the United States: ▸ An unincorporated community in Brown County, Texas.
- (countable, uncountable) A number of places in the United States: ▸ An unincorporated community in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
- (countable, uncountable) A number of places in the United States: ▸ A number of townships in the United States, listed under May Township.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ma | Abbr=Yes | alternative | lexicographic |
| Mae | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Mays | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Maywort (Terms derived from May) · King of May (Terms derived from May) · have climbed May Hill (Terms derived from May) · May Morning (Terms derived from May) · mayfly (Terms derived from May) · Cambus o' May (Terms derived from May) · mid-May (Terms derived from May) · May and January (Terms derived from May) · May-morn (Terms derived from May) · May Queen (Terms derived from May) · May-roll (Terms derived from May) · May races (Terms derived from May) · Maycember (Terms derived from May) · May laws (Terms derived from May) · mayapple (Terms derived from May) · May butter (Terms derived from May) · Mayie (Terms derived from May) · May Day (Terms derived from May) · May parr (Terms derived from May) · maybird (Terms derived from May) · May examination (Terms derived from May) · May apple (Terms derived from May) · Mays Landing (Terms derived from May) · May Ball (Terms derived from May) · May-September romance (Terms derived from May) · Black May (Terms derived from May) · May-sucker (Terms derived from May) · May-week (Terms derived from May) · May 7th (Terms derived from May) · May bug (Terms derived from May) · May lady (Terms derived from May) · May-skate (Terms derived from May) · May fly (Terms derived from May) · May meetings (Terms derived from May) · May beetle (Terms derived from May) · May-king (Terms derived from May) · May-White syndrome (Terms derived from May) · Lady of the May (Terms derived from May) · Maying (Terms derived from May) · May-drink (Terms derived from May) · Memphis in May (Terms derived from May) · ne'er cast a clout till May be out (Terms derived from May) · May-bird (Terms derived from May) · May and December (Terms derived from May) · May-gad (Terms derived from May) · Mayey (Terms derived from May) · May flower (Terms derived from May) · May whaup (Terms derived from May) · May fish (Terms derived from May) · mayflower (Terms derived from May) · may duke (Terms derived from May) · May peal (Terms derived from May) · May whaap (Terms derived from May) · Lord of May (Terms derived from May) · mayhaw (Terms derived from May) · May-chafter (Terms derived from May) · May-jack (Terms derived from May) · May-Thurner syndrome (Terms derived from May) · Lord of the May (Terms derived from May) · Queen of May (Terms derived from May) · May-December (Terms derived from May) · May Uprising (Terms derived from May) · May-fly (Terms derived from May) · May highflyer (Terms derived from May) · May-house (Terms derived from May) · May lily (Terms derived from May) · mayduke (Terms derived from May) · May-cherry (Terms derived from May) · May wool (Terms derived from May) · May-pop (Terms derived from May) · May-bean (Terms derived from May) · May fowl (Terms derived from May) · Maytime (Terms derived from May) · May-bush (Terms derived from May) · maytag (Terms derived from May) · mayfish (Terms derived from May) · maypole (Terms derived from May) · May bloom (Terms derived from May) · May gray (Terms derived from May) · May Marian (Terms derived from May) · May curlew (Terms derived from May) · King of the May (Terms derived from May) · Sun of May (Terms derived from May) · May game (Terms derived from May) · May Revolution (Terms derived from May) · Italian may (Terms derived from May) · May Bumps (Terms derived from May) · May queen (Terms derived from May) · Mayfair (Terms derived from May) · May-sel (Terms derived from May) · May skin (Terms derived from May) · May grape (Terms derived from May) · May-fern (Terms derived from May) · Bloody May (Terms derived from May) · May Week (Terms derived from May) · May rose (Terms derived from May) · May blob (Terms derived from May) · May-chick (Terms derived from May) · May dew (Terms derived from May) · Queen of the May (Terms derived from May) · May-chit (Terms derived from May) · May-term (Terms derived from May) · may tag (Terms derived from May) · May bishop (Terms derived from May) · May grass (Terms derived from May) · May gowan (Terms derived from May) · maying (Terms derived from May) · May wine (Terms derived from May) · May-worm (Terms derived from May) · May-haw (Terms derived from May) · May-rose (Terms derived from May) · sell in May and go away (Terms derived from May) · May pole (Terms derived from May) · maywort (Terms derived from May) · May-morning (Terms derived from May) · May Hill (Terms derived from May) · May-lord (Terms derived from May) · may tree (Terms derived from May) · May thorn (Terms derived from May) · May blossom (Terms derived from May) · may-weed (Terms derived from May)
Descendants
Mei · Mē · Mei · Mieh · Māe · mehi · মে · Meyi · Me · mei · Me · Mayu · မေ · Mei · मई · می · Mei
Relateds
September · mul:5 · Cinco de Mayo · December · February · October · April · November · March · June · July · August · January
Synonyms
Translations (283)
nl mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · kn ಮೇ ತಿಂಗಳು (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ln máyí (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · zu uMeyi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rcf mé (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · dtp Mikat (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ik Suppivik (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ru май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fur Mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nan-hbl 五月 (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · et mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · it mag. (abbreviation of the month above) · lt gegužė (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tru ܐܝـܝܰܪ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · zza Gulane (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · crh qural ay (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nap maio (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · kk мам. (abbreviation of the month above) · cs kvě (abbreviation of the month above) · si මැයි (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rm mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lo ເດືອນພຶດສາພາ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sco Mey (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · egl mâż (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sv Maj (given name) · xbr wulang lima (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lv maijs (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mk Маја (given name) · nso Mopitlo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · esu Qusiirvik (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · kea maiu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ast mayu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lld mé (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · akz hasiholtina istatáɬɬàapi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ty mē (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sjt вы̄ссьма̄нна (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · dak Wožupiwi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lou mê (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ja 皐月 (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · li Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sk máj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sv May (given name) · wo Mee (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · el Μάιος (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tg май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · my ငါးလ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · he מַאי (given name) · br miz Mae (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ug بەشىنچى ئاي (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · my မေ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · abq май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tr May (abbreviation of the month above) · nds Maimaand (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mn тавдугаар сар (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · pam Pángalimang búlan (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · cy Mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · bn মে (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · el Μάης (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lb Päischtmount (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · frr moi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · or ମଇ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · win Mąą hitawus hii wiira (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · liv maij (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · cmn 五月 (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ht me (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lt gegužis (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · cop ⲙⲁⲓⲟⲥ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · he מַאי (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ha Mayu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · et lehekuu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · bo ཟླ་ལྔ་བ། (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · bar Moa (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · es may (abbreviation of the month above) · gil Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rsk май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · de Wonnemond (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fi touko (abbreviation of the month above) · hu Maja (given name) · mt Mejju (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · hak 五月 (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · be май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · pt mai. (abbreviation of the month above) · hu máj. (abbreviation of the month above) · gd Cèit (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ee Mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tk maý (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · cv Ҫу (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · frr krölemoune (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sms vueʹssmään (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · be тра́вень (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · gl maio (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · is maí (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ems Nikllit Iraluat (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ee Damɛ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ady жъоныгъуакӏ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fa-ira مِه (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mnc ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠ ᠪᡳ᠍ᠶᠠ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · id Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sh svi (abbreviation of the month above) · lt geg. (abbreviation of the month above) · hy մյս (abbreviation of the month above) · kg mayi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · an mayo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · hy մայիս (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · xmf მესი (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · arc אִיָּר (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · th พฤษภาคม (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · bg май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · uz may (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fi Touko (given name) · zu uNhlaba (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · pam Máyu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · af Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · el Μαΐ (abbreviation of the month above) · is maímánuður (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · dng вуйүә (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sjd вӯссьма̄нн (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · vro lehekuu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · os май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · st Motsheanong (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fy blommemoanne (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sc magiu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ru Ма́йя (given name) · yi מײַ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sc maju (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ki Mũgira Njara (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mwl Maio (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · dv މެއި (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sw Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · wa may (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · be тра (abbreviation of the month above) · odt winnamānoth (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · myv панжиков (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sh мај (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sek ʼUtʼǫ̀ʼ kùnuyehde (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · vi thg 5 (abbreviation of the month above) · da maj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nap majo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · la maius (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ar أَيَّار (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tl May. (abbreviation of the month above) · sh svibanj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · el λευκάκανθα (hawthorn or its blossoms) · acw ميي (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · pdc Moi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · su Méi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · es mayo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fy maaie (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · kl maaji (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ny Meyi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ckb ئایار (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · pa ਮਈ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lez тӏул (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lo ພຶດສາພາ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sn Chivabvu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · to Mē (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rm matg (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · zun Yachun Kwa'shi'amme (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · cmn 梅 (given name) · ik Nuġġiaqtuġvik (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · udm куартолэзь (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ab лаҵара (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fi toukok. (abbreviation of the month above) · th พ.ค. (abbreviation of the month above) · oj zaagibagaa-giizis (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fi toukokuu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fr mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · el Μάι (abbreviation of the month above) · ia maio (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ml മേയ് (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · kmr gulan (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · jam Mie (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nv Tʼą́ą́tsoh (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · pl maj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sm me (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ce Стигалкъекъа-бутт (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · yue 五月 (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ca maig (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · xal хөн сар (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · cu трѣвьнъ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mi Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · crh mayıs (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · scn maiu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · km ឧសភា (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · gd Cèitean (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · vo mayul (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mi Haratua (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · cs květen (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sl máj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · prs می (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lmo maasc (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ss íNkhwekhwéti (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ro florar (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · et maikuu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ur مَئی (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tt май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nb mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · jv Mèi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ug ماي (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lb Mee (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · io mayo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ka მაისი (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · se miessemánnu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · am መይ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · eo majo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · csb môj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ckt мимлыръылин (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · co maghju (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ms Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · pdt Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · dz སྤྱི་ཟླ་ལྔ་པ། (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ga Bealtaine (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mhn moi (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rup maiu (roa-rup) (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ja 五月 (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tr mayıs (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nn mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sh maj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · de Mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · apw Itsáh Hashkēē (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · hu május (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sq maj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · stq Moai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · eo Majo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · it maggio (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · it mag (abbreviation of the month above) · pt maio (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · kk мамыр (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fo mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rap Vai Tu'u Potu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sl Mája (given name) · syc ܐܝܪ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sl Máj (given name) · tl May (abbreviation of the month above) · vec majo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · mk мај (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · eu maiatz (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · moe nissi-pishimᵘ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rm maitg (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ar مَايُو (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · kw Me (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · az may (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · chr ᎠᏂᏍᎬᏘ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · liv lēḑkū (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nl bloeimaand (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ko 오월 (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · frr mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · uk трав. (abbreviation of the month above) · bi mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · lv Maija (given name) · uk тра́вень (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · alt май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · he מַאיָה (given name) · zun Sow-a:ne (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · haw Mei (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ckt имԓыръыԓин (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · nds Mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · bcl Mayo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sv maj (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sah Ыам ыйа (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · eu mai. (abbreviation of the month above) · tpi me (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · acw مايو (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · om Ebla (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · te మే (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · hi मई (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · br Mae (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ro mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tet maiu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ky май (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · fj May (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · xcl մայիս (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · aii ܐܝܼܵܪ (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ang þrimilce (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · es may. (abbreviation of the month above) · vi tháng năm (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · tl Mayo (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · arz مايو (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · sc mazu (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · oc mai (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · rm meg (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar) · ka მაი. (abbreviation of the month above) · akz Meyka (fifth month of the Gregorian calendar)