What does quai mean?
A quay is a paved embankment or platform running beside a river, canal, harbour, or other body of water. It provides a place for people to walk, gather, and watch boats, and may also serve as a loading or unloading area for vessels. The word is especially common in British English, where it is pronounced /kwiː/, though it is also used in American English, often with the pronunciation /kiː/. In descriptions of towns and ports, a quay can be a prominent feature: riverside quays may be lined with houses, cafés, markets, or historic buildings. The related form “quayside” is commonly used for the area immediately beside a quay, as in “a quayside restaurant.”
A paved embankment or platform beside a river, canal, harbour, or other body of water.
"A narrow lane runs between the warehouses and the quay."
Especially common in British English; pronunciation varies regionally.
A landing place or wharf where boats and ships are loaded and unloaded.
"The cargo was transferred to a truck on the quay."
This sense overlaps with “wharf” and is particularly frequent in descriptions of ports and commercial waterways.
The standard plural is quays, with the final s pronounced in the usual way.
"The quays were busy with workers and delivery vehicles."
A quay takes its name from a word whose pronunciation changed in English: the British /kwiː/ preserves the French w sound, while the American /kiː/ does not.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quai come from?
The English word comes through French from an Old Northern Frankish word meaning a bank or embankment. The French spelling quay was established before it entered English, and the modern pronunciation differs between British and American English. The form is related to Germanic words for a quay or riverbank found in languages such as Dutch and German.
Related word forms
How quai is actually used
The word is especially associated with British English and is also used in American English. British speakers generally pronounce it with a w sound, whereas American speakers commonly pronounce it as /kiː/.