The term "mayday" is an emergency signal used internationally to indicate a life-threatening situation, especially in air or sea travel. When someone uses "mayday," it typically means that immediate assistance is required. The word is often repeated three times—"mayday, mayday, mayday"—in distress calls to ensure clarity and urgency.
The word "mayday" originated from the French phrase "m'aider," which means "help me." This phrase was adapted into English as a distress signal in the 1920s, primarily for use in aviation and maritime contexts.