Jump To:

• tai
  tai

  noun

  any of several sparoid fishes of the Pacific Ocean, as Pagrus major red tai, a food fish of Japan.
• Tai
  Tai

  noun

  a group of languages spoken in SE Asia, including Thai, Lao, and Shan.
• TAI
  TAI

  abbreviation

  International Atomic Time

tai

¹ American  

[tahy] / taɪ /

noun

tai plural

1. any of several sparoid fishes of the Pacific Ocean, as Pagrus major red tai, a food fish of Japan.

---

Tai ² American  

[tahy, tah-ee] / taɪ, ˈtɑ i /

noun

1. a group of languages spoken in SE Asia, including Thai, Lao, and Shan.

2. Thai.

---

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Tai.

2. Thai.

TAI ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. International Atomic Time

---

Tai ² British  

/ taɪ /

adjective

1. a variant spelling of Thai

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• tai
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tai

1615–25; < Japanese ta ( w ) i, earlier tafi

Example Sentences

And now, in addition to dance, I’m signing up for a tai chi class.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

"I've tried antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzos, sleeping pills and stimulants, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy... tai chi, reiki, meditation, veganism, art therapy and music therapy," the former stand-up comedian said.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Exercises which strengthen the muscles include yoga, lifting weights, tai chi, sit-ups, energetic gardening and carrying heavy shopping bags.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

Featuring souvenir mai tai glasses and faded photos of celebrities on its walls, the old-fashioned watering hole was built over the Pacific Ocean in 1952.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2025

I grabbed the microphone from a sixth-grade girl who insisted that tai chi had made her unbeatable at gymnastics.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman