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mayday

0 antonyms and opposites of mayday, grouped by meaning.

Noun — An international radio distress call used by ships and aircraft in serious danger.

We haven't recorded synonyms for mayday yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use mayday

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

send a mayday mayday call mayday signal

Etymology

Coined in the 1920s by a radio officer at Croydon Airport, based on the French phrase "venez m'aider" ("come help me"), shortened to "m'aider" and respelled "mayday" for clear radio pronunciation.

Full origin of mayday →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mayday” mean?

The word “mayday” means an international radio distress call used by ships and aircraft in serious danger. In plain terms, the emergency word pilots and ship crews shout or radio when they're in serious trouble.

How do you pronounce “mayday”?

“Mayday” is pronounced MAY-day (/ˈmeɪ̯deɪ̯/ in IPA).

How do you use “mayday” in a sentence?

Here is “mayday” used in a sentence: “The pilot radioed a mayday moments before the engine failed.”

What part of speech is “mayday”?

“Mayday” is a noun.

Where does the word “mayday” come from?

The word “mayday” dates back to around 1920 and comes from French. Coined in the 1920s by a radio officer at Croydon Airport, based on the French phrase "venez m'aider" ("come help me"), shortened to "m'aider" and respelled "mayday" for clear radio pronunciation.

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.