rai
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of rai
First recorded in 1985–90; from Algerian French raï, of uncertain origin; perhaps from Algerian Arabic (ha er-)ray “(here is the) view, (that's the) thinking,” a phrase often used in the songs
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Mai pen rai" – no big deal – is a national catch-phrase.
From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2025
In 2018, according to data provided by Nipon, Thai farmers produced 485 kg of rice per rai, compared to 752 kg and 560 kg in Bangladesh and Nepal respectively.
From Reuters ● Sep. 18, 2023
I woke my children and we piled in the man's car, where he blasted rai music as we made our way to Gueliz, one of the more fashionable Marrakchi districts.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2022
Sofiane Saidi, who grew up in Algeria and now lives in Paris, has expanded on the Algerian music called rai; his band, Mazalda, laces it with hard rock, funk and even tinges of math-rock.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2020
Hardly an occasion for declaring mai pen rai, still there were scarce traces of hope; and as hope was consciousness, there were scarce traces of the latter as well.
From An Apostate: Nawin of Thais by Sills, Steven (Steven David Justin)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
