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Why is the word 'mayday' used for help?

 
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El and Bill



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:12 pm    Post subject: Why is the word 'mayday' used for help? Reply with quote

Question of the day:

Q: Why do ships and aircraft use 'mayday' as their call for help?

A: This comes from the French word 'm'aidez -meaning 'help me' -- and is pronounced, approximately, 'mayday.'

We learn something new every day (or, at least, that's new to me).

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Sunbeam



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To continue with the theme, "pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan" also has French roots. Panne in French means something like being stuck, in trouble, or out of something. Tomber en panne, for example, means basically "befallen with trouble," and is used to describe when your car breaks down. In French, panne is pronounced "pahn" and hence why "pan-pan x3" is not said like it would be in the English frying pan.

Sécurité (x3 on the radio) also comes from French, but its meaning is fairly obvious. However, that's why it's pronounced "say-curie-TAY" and not "seh-CURE-itty" as it would be in English.

It's always fun to learn more about words, isn't it? Boating provides a lot of opportunity for that, being steeped in tradition.

Sunbeam Hot
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TyBoo



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 1:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not to be culturally nonsensitive here, but it sure sounds like those Frenchmen get in a lot of trouble...
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El and Bill



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And, TyBoo, what about French women?
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localboy



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ditto. One of those things I always wondered, but never looked up.

Quote:
Not to be culturally nonsensitive here, but it sure sounds like those Frenchmen get in a lot of trouble...


Laughing Laughing Reminds me of a joke:

I saw an ad on E-bay. It said; "FOR SALE. WWII FRENCH ARMY RIFLE. EXCELLENT CONDITION. NEVER FIRED. JUST DROPPED ONCE." Wink Laughing

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starcrafttom



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great the surrender monkeys have tricked me into speaking frog. Shocked Figures they would have threes ways to ask for help.

And as of their women, Well I guess those guys need all the help they can get.

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TyBoo



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am very sorry I made the joke. If folks here want to badmouth people - any people - they should take it to Facebook or Twitter or some other childish venue. I should have known better and I apologize to the several friends I have on here of French descent.
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localboy



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I come from Hawai'i where we all learn at an early age to laugh at ourselves. It's a community of myriad cultures so you need to get along. As a result, I don't do the PC thing. I don't mean any insult. If we can't laugh at ourselves...people, some not all, are way too sensitive.
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JamesTXSD



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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aw, it was just a joke. Feel free to poke fun at those of us from Iowish descent. Some of us might even get the joke. Cool

I figured the saying had something to do with holiday stuff... and "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!" sounds a lot more urgent than, "Trick or treat!"

No one could ever mistake you for being a mean person, Mike - you are truly one of the good guys. And I don't care what anyone here says about you. Mr. Green

See? Another joke. Please don't ask me to apologize for that. Laughing

Best wishes,
Jim

(My forefathers came from other places, but I am an American... and I think it even says in the Constitution that we can make fun of people from foreign lands... like North Dakota)
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starcrafttom



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How can you tell I'm being sarcastic? MY LIPS ARE MOVING> I said Mes lèvres se déplacent!!!!

in five easy clicks of the net you to can Insult people in a language you have only heard the horrible accent of.
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rogerbum



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now that we're done insulting the french - How many marines does it take to change a light bulb? Laughing
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starcrafttom



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I dont know. I am not afraid of the dark.
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Mike B



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Q: Why do ships and aircraft use 'mayday' as their call for help?

A: Because nobody helps if you say "Juneday" !
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