ܝܢܐ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Alternative forms

• ܝܼܠܗܘܿܢ (īlhōn)

Etymology

Developed from a cognate to Classical Syriac ܐܸܢܘܿܢ (ennōn, “they are”), a modified form of ܗܸܢܘܿܢ (hennōn, “them”). In Classical Syriac, the form of the 3rd person plural copula, they are, is the only one that differs from the intensive pronoun it matches, in this case they. Likewise, in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, this is the only form of the copula that is not based on variants of the verb ܗܵܘܹܐ (hāwē), pointing to an archaic inherited form and shared forms of copulas with Classical Syriac in the older stages of Assyrian Neo-Aramaic. In some dialects, this form is lost and displaced by ܝܼܠܗܘܿܢ (īlhōn) and its variants, a newer form based on the verb ܗܵܘܹܐ (hāwē) under the influence of and based on all other forms of the copula. Spelled without an initial alap despite having a glottal stop in order to conform with other copula forms and to differentiate with the homophone ܐܝܼܢܵܐ (īnā, “however.”) Compare Turoyo -ܢܶܐ (-ne, “they are”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard) IPA^(key): [ʔiːnɑ.]
• (Nineveh Plains)

  (Alqosh) IPA^(key): [ʔiːlɪ]

  (Bakhdede) IPA^(key): [ʔiːna]

  (Peshabur) IPA^(key): [ʔiːley]

  (Tel Kepe) IPA^(key): [ʔiːla]

  (Tesqopa) IPA^(key): [ʔiːley]

Verb

ܝܼܢܵܐ • (īnā)

1. third-person plural present indicative of ܗܵܘܹܐ (hāwē): they are

Usage notes

• The ܚܒ݂ܵܨܵܐ (ḥḇāṣā) under the ܝܘܿܕ݂ (yōḏ) usually drops if a vowel sound precedes, with or without ܐ, and the ܝܘܿܕ݂ (yōḏ) coalesces. Therefore written ܝܢܵܐ (ìnā)