# mayday

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmeɪ.deɪ/ · frequency rank #32,493

## Definitions
1. An international distress signal used by shipping and aircraft.

## Etymology
From the distress signal mayday, from French m'aider, short for Venez m'aider! (“Come to help me!”).

## Easily confused with
- **Mazda** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mayday-vs-mazda)
- **Monday** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mayday-vs-monday)
- **midday** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mayday-vs-midday)
- **Maya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maya-vs-mayday)
- **madam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/madam-vs-mayday)
- **Malay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/malay-vs-mayday)
- **Mandy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mandy-vs-mayday)
- **madly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/madly-vs-mayday)
- **Mayan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mayan-vs-mayday)
- **Maddy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maddy-vs-mayday)
- **Mackay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mackay-vs-mayday)
- **maidan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maidan-vs-mayday)

## Common misspellings (9)
`amyday`, `madyay`, `mayady`, `maydayy`, `maydday`, `maydya`, `mayyday`, `mmayday`, `myaday`

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