How Do You Spell MAYDAYS?

Pronunciation: [mˈe͡ɪde͡ɪz] (IPA)

The word "Maydays" consists of two syllables: "May" and "days". The first syllable, "May", is pronounced as /meɪ/, with the long "a" sound. The second syllable, "days", is pronounced as /deɪz/, with the long "a" sound and the "z" sound at the end. "Maydays" is a plural form of the word "mayday", which is a distress signal used in emergencies, particularly in aviation and maritime contexts. Proper spelling is crucial in such situations to ensure clear communication and prompt rescue operations.

MAYDAYS Meaning and Definition

1. Maydays is a term originating from the maritime industry and is used as a noun to denote distress signals or calls for emergency assistance. It is primarily associated with radio communications and is employed to alert nearby ships, coastguards, or aviation authorities about a hazardous situation or immediate danger faced by a vessel or aircraft.

   In strictly technical terms, "Mayday" is an internationally recognized emergency code word, derived from the French phrase "m'aider" which means "help me". It is universally understood and commonly used in situations where human lives are at risk or imminent peril, requiring immediate rescue or assistance.

   The use of "Maydays" or the distress call "Mayday" typically follows a standardized format in which the signal is repeated three times to clearly indicate an emergency situation. Once the distress call is received, it is crucial for the receiver to acknowledge the distress signal and provide appropriate assistance promptly, in order to mitigate the risks and save lives.

   The term "Maydays" can also be used more broadly to refer to a collection or accumulation of distress signals and emergency calls. In this sense, it signifies a compilation or record of various distress incidents occurring within a certain period or geographic area, serving as an overview or assessment tool for monitoring emergency situations. Such records may assist authorities, responders, and researchers in evaluating the frequency, patterns, and severity of distress incidents, thereby aiding in the development of effective emergency preparedness and response strategies.

Top Common Misspellings for MAYDAYS *

• adays 100%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for MAYDAYS

• maddys
• mayways
• modays
• haydays
• mandys
• maydayd
• maydaye
• Meydays
• myadas
• maydlye
• hapydays
• Laidays

Etymology of MAYDAYS

The word "Mayday" as an international distress signal in radio communications has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the French phrase "venez m'aider" meaning "come help me". This phrase was Anglicized and used by French and English-speaking pilots in the early 20th century.

In the early days of aviation, before the advent of reliable communication systems, pilots used a variety of distress signals to call for help. In 1923, a radio officer at Croydon Airport in London, Frederick Stanley Mockford, came up with the idea of using the word "Mayday" as a standardized distress call. Mockford was asked to think of a word that could be easily understood by aviators and non-English speakers alike. He suggested "Mayday" since it sounded like the French phrase "venez m'aider" but was also distinctive and easily recognizable in radio transmission.