Yes, but it is of very low frequency. It is primarily the standard plural form of the proper noun (name) 'May'.

Can I use 'mays' instead of 'may'?

No. 'May' (as in permission or possibility) is a modal verb and does not have a third-person singular '-s' form in contemporary English. 'Mays' in this sense is an obsolete archaism.

How do I pronounce 'mays'?

It is pronounced exactly like 'maize' (corn) or 'maze' (labyrinth): /meɪz/.

Should 'mays' be capitalised?

When used as a plural name, yes, it should be capitalised: 'the Mays'. If used in its obsolete verb form, it is not capitalised.

mays: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/meɪz/US/meɪz/

Informal/Formal (as a name); Archaic/Highly Formal (as a verb form)

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “mays” mean?

The plural of the proper noun 'May', referring to multiple individuals named May.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The plural of the proper noun 'May', referring to multiple individuals named May.

Can also appear as an archaic third-person singular present tense verb form meaning 'is allowed' or 'has permission', though this is obsolete. In modern usage, it is almost exclusively the plural of the name.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference. Both treat it as the plural of the name 'May'. The archaic verb form is equally obsolete in both varieties.

Connotations

Neutral when referring to people. The archaic verb form can sound excessively formal, poetic, or legalistic.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in general language use, appearing primarily in specific contexts like family histories, class lists, or historical fiction.

Grammar

How to Use “mays” in a Sentence

[Determiner] + Mays + [Verb (plural)]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

the Maysthree Mays

medium

sisters namedall theboth Mays

weak

andfamilyinvited the

Examples

Examples of “mays” in a Sentence

verb

British English

'He mays go if he wishes,' the old text stated. (archaic)

American English

The decree mays that the gates be opened at dawn. (archaic/poetic)

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare. Could appear in HR contexts: 'The two Mays in accounting will attend.'

Academic

Rare. Might appear in demographic studies or historical records listing names.

Everyday

Low. Primarily in social contexts discussing multiple people with the same first name: 'We have three Mays in our book club.'

Technical

Virtually non-existent.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “mays”

Neutral

individuals named Maypersons called May

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “mays”

Using 'Mays' as a possessive (May's is correct for singular possessive).
Using 'Mays' to refer to the month (incorrect).
Forgetting capitalisation when it is a name.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, but it is of very low frequency. It is primarily the standard plural form of the proper noun (name) 'May'.
: No. 'May' (as in permission or possibility) is a modal verb and does not have a third-person singular '-s' form in contemporary English. 'Mays' in this sense is an obsolete archaism.
: It is pronounced exactly like 'maize' (corn) or 'maze' (labyrinth): /meɪz/.
: When used as a plural name, yes, it should be capitalised: 'the Mays'. If used in its obsolete verb form, it is not capitalised.
: The plural of the proper noun 'May', referring to multiple individuals named May.
: Mays is usually informal/formal (as a name); archaic/highly formal (as a verb form) in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

'Mays' has a 'Z' sound at the end, just like 'names' – think 'several names, several Mays'.

Conceptual Metaphor

N/A for proper noun plural.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In our family history, we discovered that three different were born in the same village in the 18th century.

Multiple Choice

In which context is the word 'mays' most likely to be used correctly in modern English?