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Mayday: meaning, definitions and examples

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mayday

 

[ หˆmeษชdeษช ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

emergency signal

Mayday is an internationally recognized distress signal used primarily in emergency situations at sea or in the air. It is derived from the French term 'm'aider,' meaning 'help me.' When repeated three times, it indicates an urgent operational need for help.

Synonyms

call for help, distress signal, emergency signal

Examples of usage

  • The pilot declared a mayday after engine failure.
  • She sent out a mayday signal from her distress beacon.
  • The crew initiated a mayday call to alert nearby ships.
  • During the storm, the captain transmitted a mayday message.
  • The rescue team responded to the mayday from the stranded boat.

Translations

Translations of the word "mayday" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น maio

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฎเฅ‡เคกเฅ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Mayday

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ mayday

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะผะตะนะดะตะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ mayday

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒกใƒผใƒ‡ใƒผ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท mayday

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ mayday

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท mayday

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฉ”์ด๋ฐ์ด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุงูŠุฏุงูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mayday

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ mayday

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆข…ๅพท

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ mayday

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ mayday

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะผะตะนะดะตะน

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒ”แƒ˜แƒ“แƒ”แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mayday

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ mayday

Etymology

The term 'mayday' originates from the early 1920s when it was adopted as the standard international distress signal. It is derived from the French phrase 'venez m'aider,' which translates to 'come help me.' The use of 'mayday' as an emergency signal was officially recognized in 1927 by the International Radiotelegraph Convention. The repetition of the word three times (i.e., 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday') is a way to indicate the urgency and seriousness of the situation, ensuring that the message is understood clearly. The use of 'mayday' has since become commonplace in aviation and maritime contexts, symbolizing dire emergencies where swift rescue is required.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,487, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.