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Definition of aye-aye
aye-aye
Plural:aye-ayes
aye-aye Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A rare, nocturnal, and arboreal lemur native exclusively to Madagascar, characterized by its continuously growing rodent-like teeth, large eyes, and an elongated, skeletal middle finger used to tap on wood and extract insect grubs.
Example
"The documentary crew spent weeks in the remote Madagascan rainforest hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive aye-aye foraging at night."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for aye-ayeWord Nuance & Usage
In Malagasy folklore, the aye-aye is widely considered a harbinger of bad luck or a symbol of evil, which has tragically led to its historical persecution.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French 'aye-aye', derived from the Malagasy 'haihay' or 'ahay', which is likely of imitative origin reflecting the animal's vocalizations.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Aye-aye. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/aye-aye