# Mai

/ˈmaɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mai
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. slang for 'my'

determiner · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

a casual way to write 'my' in text messages or online comments.

For teachers: a non-standard, phonetic, or stylized orthographic variant of the first-person singular possessive determiner 'my'.

- I just found mai keys in the fridge, I'm so tired.
- The user posted 'mai life is a mess' as a caption, employing deliberate misspelling to signal a casual or self-deprecating tone.

Usage: Used exclusively in digital communication like social media or texting; never appropriate for formal prose.

## Examples

- We ordered a mango mai for dessert.
- The resort serves a fresh pineapple mai every afternoon by the pool.
- The vibrant colors of the tropical mai contrasted beautifully with the dark wood of the table.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.