# may

> English word · Verb · IPA /meɪ/ · frequency rank #110

## Definitions
1. To be strong; to have power (over).
2. To be able; can.
3. To be able to go.
4. To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests.
5. Granting the admissibility of a supposition, in a way that can be semantically either subjunctive or indicative.
6. Granting the admissibility of a supposition, in a way that can be semantically either subjunctive or indicative.
7. Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect).
8. Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark.

## Etymology
From Middle English mowen, mayen, moȝen, maȝen, from Old English magan, from Proto-West Germanic *magan, from Proto-Germanic *maganą, from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ-.
Cognate with Dutch mag (“may”, first- and third-person singular of mogen (“to be able to, be allowed to, may”)), Low German mögen, German mag (“like”, first- and third-person singular of mögen (“to like, want, require”)), Swedish må, Icelandic mega, megum. See also might.

## Easily confused with
- **my** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-my)
- **ME** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-me)
- **Mr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mr)
- **MS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-ms)
- **MM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mm)
- **MO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mo)
- **mi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mi)
- **MP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mp)
- **MD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-md)
- **MT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mt)
- **MG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mg)
- **MC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mc)
- **ML** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-ml)
- **MB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mb)
- **MN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mn)
- **mu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mu)
- **MK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mk)
- **MW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mw)
- **MV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mv)
- **MJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/may-vs-mj)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/may