बाई

Hindi

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Sanskrit वामक (vāmaka, left).

Pronunciation

  • (Delhi) IPA(key): /bɑː.iː/, [bäː.iː]

Adjective

बाई • (bāī) (indeclinable)

  1. left

See also

Marathi

Etymology

Inherited from Old Marathi 𑘤𑘰𑘃𑘩 (bāīla), 𑘤𑘰𑘃𑘭𑘹 (bāīse). Further origination is unclear.

Date's Maharshtra Shabdakosh posits a derivation from Sanskrit भगवती (bhagavatī) or Sanskrit भवती (bhavatī), while Tulpule's A Dictionary of Old Marathi speculates a descent from Sanskrit वप्त्रिका (vaptrikā), via the Prakrit 𑀩𑀸𑀇𑀬𑀸 (bāiyā).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bai/, [baiː]
  • Hyphenation: बाई
  • Rhymes: -ai

Noun

बाई • (bāīf

  1. woman
    Synonym: स्त्री (strī)
  2. A term of address by a student for a female teacher.
  3. (honorific) a title appended to a woman's name as a respectful form of reference or address
    सावित्रीबाई, पार्वतीबाई, आनंदीबाई etc.
    sāvitrībāī, pārvatībāī, ānandībāī etc.
    Savitribai, Parvatibai, Anandibai etc.
  4. (colloquial) housemaid
    Synonym: मोलकरीण (molakrīṇ)

See also

References

  • Berntsen, Maxine (1982–1983) “बाई”, in A Basic Marathi-English Dictionary, New Delhi: American Institute of Indian Studies
  • दाते, यशवंत रामकृष्ण [Date, Yashwant Ramkrishna] (1932-1950) “बाई”, in महाराष्ट्र शब्दकोश (mahārāṣṭra śabdakoś) (in Marathi), पुणे [Pune]: महाराष्ट्र कोशमंडळ (mahārāṣṭra kośmaṇḍaḷ)
  • Shankar Gopal Tulpule, Anne Feldhaus (1999) “बाइल”, in A Dictionary of Old Marathi, Mumbai: Popular Prakashan