English · Word Candidate

may

/meɪ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: might · mays · maying · mayed

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To be able to go.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

có thể đi

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

O weary night, O long and tedious night, Abate thy houres, shine comforts from the East, That I may backe to Athens by day-light […].

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

được phép, cho phép

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

you may smoke outside

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

The hawthorn bush or its blossoms.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Cây gai hoặc hoa của nó

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

The fire from Lindfield was coming down the grassy hillside to the right between the hedges of may.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To gather may, or flowers in general.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

hái hoa

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

Soo it befelle in the moneth of May / quene Gueneuer called vnto her knyȝtes of the table round / and she gafe them warnynge that erly vpon the morowe she wold ryde on mayeng in to woodes & feldes besyde westmynstre. "So it befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called unto her knights of the Ta

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “may” mean?

To be able to go.

Is “may” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.