aj

Inherited from Proto-Yeniseian *axʷ (“I”). Compare Kott ai (“I”) and Pumpokol ad (“I”). Also see Assan aj.

aj

1. I (first-person singular subjective)

   Synonym: ä

• aiŋ

Inherited from Proto-Yeniseian *axʷ (“I”). Compare Kott ai (“I”) and Pumpokol ad (“I”). Also see Arin aj.

aj

1. I (first-person singular subjective)

   Synonym: ja

• ajun

• aji

• IPA^(key): [ˈaj]

aj

1. (dialect, Moravia) and (also), and even
2. (dialect, Moravia) even (implying an extreme example, used at the beginning of sentences)

• (standard Czech) i

aj

1. (literary, obsolete) oh; lo, behold
   • 1593, “Genesis 1:31”, in Bible kralická [Kralice Bible]:

     A viděl Bůh vše, což učinil, a aj, bylo velmi dobré.

     And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.

• “aj”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “aj”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

• IPA^(key): /ɑð/

aj

1. to swim

• Tyron, D.T., Hackman, B. (1983) Solomon Islands languages: An internal classification. Cited in: "Dehu" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.
• Leenhardt, M. (1946) Langues et dialectes de l'Austro-Mèlanèsie. Cited in: "ⁿDe’u" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.

• IPA^(key): /ʔɑχ/

aj

1. person, man
2. neutral or male prefix, mister

• ajaw

• IPA^(key): /ai̯/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ai̯
• Hyphenation: aj

aj

1. ow! ouch! oh dear! expression of pain, (unpleasant) surprise, etc.

• IPA^(key): [ˈɒj]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒj

From a spontaneous burst of sound.^[1]

aj

1. oh
   • 1932, Attila József, Medvetánc (Bear Dance), poem, lines 1–2, [1]

     Fürtös, láncos, táncos, nyalka,
     aj de szép a kerek talpa!

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

From Proto-Uralic *aŋe.^[2][3]

aj

1. (obsolete) opening

• (oh): aj in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
• aj in Nóra Ittzés, editor, A magyar nyelv nagyszótára [A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (Nszt.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published a–ez as of 2024).

aj

1. this, this present, this current.

   aj bason.

   This spring.

• aꜧ (obsolete)

From Proto-Mayan *aaj.

aj

1. cane
2. firework

• Aj

• anonymous author (17th c.) Uocabulario copioso de las lenguas cakchikel y ꜭiche‎^[2] (in Spanish), page 8: “Aꜧ caña.”
• Brown, R. McKenna, Maxwell, Judith M., Little, Walter E. (2006) ¿La ütz awäch? Introduction to Kaqchikel Maya Language, Austin: University of Texas Press, page 204
• Ruyán Canú, Déborah, Coyote Tum, Rafael, Munson L., Jo Ann (1991) Diccionario cakchiquel central y español‎^[3] (in Spanish), Instituto Lingüístico de Verano de Centroamérica, page 2

• ai (Scriver lombard)

From Latin alium.

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

aj m

1. garlic

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

aj

1. also, too

• Koponen, Eino, Ruppel, Klaas, Aapala, Kirsti, editors (2002–2008), Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎^[4], Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland

From Proto-Micronesian *ate, from Proto-Oceanic *qate, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qatay, from Proto-Austronesian *qaCay. Cognate with Paiwan qatsay, Malay hati, Javanese ati, Tagalog atay, Fijian yate.

• (phonetic) IPA^(key): [ɑtʲ]
• (phonemic) IPA^(key): /ɰætʲ/
• Bender phonemes: {haj}

aj

1. liver
2. spleen

• Marshallese–English Online Dictionary

Central Kurdish	وەچ (weç)

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

• IPA^(key): /ɑːʒ/

aj f (Arabic spelling ئاژ)

1. sprout, sucker, bud

   Synonyms: bişkoj, gupik, terh, zîl

• aj dan

• ajda

• Chyet, Michael L. (2020) “aj”, in Ferhenga Birûskî: Kurmanji–English Dictionary (Language Series; 1), volume 1, London: Transnational Press, page 4

Natural expression. First attested in the 14th century.

• IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /aj/
• IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /aj/

aj

1. (attested in Lesser Poland) oh!, whoa! (used as a reaction to an unexpected and unpleasant event or sensation)
   • 1939 [end of the 14th century], Ryszard Ganszyniec, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Kubica, Ludwik Bernacki, editors, Psałterz florjański łacińsko-polsko-niemiecki [Sankt Florian Psalter]‎^[5], Krakow: Zakład Narodowy imienia Ossolińskich, z zasiłkiem Sejmu Śląskiego [The Ossoliński National Institute: with the benefit of the Silesian Parliament], pages 39, 21:

     Noscze richlo ganbø swoiø, giszto molwø mne: ay ey (ferant confestim confusionem suam, qui dicunt mihi: euge, euge)!

     [Noście rychło gańbę swoję, jiż to mołwią mnie: Aj! Ej (ferant confestim confusionem suam, qui dicunt mihi: euge, euge)!]

• Polish: aj
• Silesian: aj

• Sławski, Franciszek (1958-1965) “aj”, in Jan Safarewicz, Andrzej Siudut, editors, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego [Etymological dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), Kraków: Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego
• B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “aj”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN

From Latin alium.

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

aj m

1. garlic

Cognates include Lule Sami aj.

• IPA^(key): /aj/

aj

1. also, too

• Joshua Wilbur (2014) A grammar of Pite Saami, Berlin: Language Science Press

Inherited from Old Polish aj.

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aj
• Syllabification: aj

aj

1. oh!, whoa! (used as a reaction to an unexpected and unpleasant event or sensation)

aj

1. (Masuria, expressive) Introduces a clause; also

• ajaj, aj-aj, ajajaj, aj-waj, aj waj

• aj in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• aj in Polish dictionaries at PWN
• Krystyna Siekierska (02.05.2008) “AJ”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century]
• Zofia Stamirowska (1987-2024) “aj”, in Anna Basara, editor, Słownik gwar Ostródzkiego, Warmii i Mazur, volume 1, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich Wydawnictwo Polskiej Akademii Nauk, →ISBN, page 115

Inherited from Proto-Yeniseian *ej (“tongue”).

aj

1. tongue

aj

1. personal article used before masculine given names

   aj Mek ― Miguel

aj

1. forms demonyms from names of places

   ‎aj + ‎Watemaal (“Guatemala”) → ‎aj Watemaal (“Guatemalan”)

2. forms agent nouns from verbs

   ‎aj + ‎elq'ak (“to steal”) → ‎aj elq' (“thief”)

• Ch'ina tusleb' aatin q'eqchi'-kaxlan aatin ut kaxlan aatin-q'eqchi' (Guatemala, 1998) [6]

Inherited from Old Polish aj.

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aj
• Syllabification: aj

aj

1. oh!, whoa! (used as a reaction to an unexpected and unpleasant event or sensation)

• Aleksandra Wencel (2023) “aj”, in Dykcjůnôrz ślų̊sko-polski, page 10

Inherited from Old Slovak aj, likely a univerbation of a +‎ i.

• IPA^(key): [aj]

aj

1. also
2. even (implying an extreme example, used at the beginning of sentences)

   Synonym: i

   Antonym: ani

• “aj”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2025

Onomatopoeic. Compare Kashubian aj, Polabian ai̯, and Polish aj.

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/
• Rhymes: -aj
• Syllabification: aj

aj

1. oh

   Synonyms: a, ach

• Lorentz, Friedrich (1908) “ãi̯”, in Slovinzisches Wörterbuch‎^[7] (in German), volume 1, Saint Petersburg: ОРЯС ИАН, page 2

• IPA^(key): /ˈaj/
• Rhymes: -aj

aj

1. ow, ouch; expression of one’s own pain, or sympathy with someone else’s.
   • (Can we date this quote?), traditional, “I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen [Last year I went with the men in the pasture]”, in Skillingtryck [Broadside ballads]‎^[8], performed by Hootenanny Singers:

     I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen. Ja, ja, med herrarna i hagen. Ja, med herrarna i hagen. I år har jag något som sparkar i magen. Aj, aj, som sparkar i magen. Aj, som sparkar i magen.

     Last year I went with the men in the pasture. Yes, yes, with the men in the pasture. Yes, with the men in the pasture. This year I have something that kicks in my belly. Ow, ow, that kicks in my belly. Ow, that kicks in my belly.

2. (repeated) An exclamation or expression of alarm, especially to avert or draw attention to a danger (concrete or abstract); hey, whoa, oh no

   Ajajajaj! Se upp för kanten!

   Whoa whoa whoa! Watch the edge!

   • 1908, Erik Dan Bergman, Litet gladare om jag får be!, page 42:

     — Det är odrägligt med fruntimmer, utfor Alfred, de skrämma bort fisken med sitt evinnerliga snatter! . . . Men hvar i alla dar är bleckfisken? undrade han och flyttade sig nervöst på sitt bräde, jag såg den alldeles nyss! . . . Aj . . . aj . . . o . . . u . . . ö . . . ajajajajaj!
     Alfred flög upp.
     — Jaså Alfred satt på den! sade Elin.

     — Womenfolk are insufferable, burst out Alfred; they scare away the fish with their everlasting chatter!… But where in heaven’s name is the octopus? he wondered, shifting nervously on his board, I saw it but a moment ago!… Ow… ow… ooh… uh… ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!
     Alfred sprang to his feet.
     — Oh, Alfred was sitting on it! said Elin.

   • 2021 August 18, Sebastian Sandström, Skoob Salihi, “Jolin om nya bachelor-säsongen: "En flock pirayor i en pöl" [Jolin on the new Bachelor season: "A pack of piranhas in a puddle"]”, in P4 Väst, Sveriges Radio:

     "Om jag säger så här, 20 brudar i en villa, ajajajaj. Jag älskar dem men det blir en flock pirayor i en pöl", säger Jolin Sikstörm.

     "Let me put it this way: 20 girls in one villa, oh no no no. I love them, but it turns into a pack of piranhas in a puddle," says Jolin Sikström.

   • 2025 May 30, Aron Sigblad, “Ekonomen om BNP-siffran: ”Aj aj aj – sänk räntan” [Economist on GDP figure: "Oh no no no – cut the interest rate"]”, in Omni:

     BNP-siffran för det första kvartalet blev klart sämre än väntat, lyder domen från SEB:s seniorekonom Robert Bergqvist. ”Ajajaj - sänk räntan[…] Thedéen ligger rejält fel i BNP-prognosen”. skriver han i ett inlägg på X.

     The GDP figure for the first quarter came in clearly worse than expected, according to SEB's senior economist Robert Bergqvist. "Oh no no no – cut the interest rate […] Thedéen is way off in the GDP forecast," he writes in a post on X.

3. aye; yea; a word expressing assent, for example in nautical contexts.

• aj aj, kapten
• ajabaja (“tut tut”)

• aj in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• aj in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)

• ja

• (Standard Zhuang) IPA^(key): /ʔa˥/
• Tone numbers: a³
• Hyphenation: aj

From Proto-Tai *ʔaːꟲ (“to open (the mouth)”). Cognate with Thai อ้า (âa).

aj (Sawndip forms 吖 or 哑 or 𮤴 or 呵 or 㕶, 1957–1982 spelling aз)

1. to open; to spread open

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

aj (1957–1982 spelling aз)

1. (dialectal) about to; soon

   Synonym: yaek