ܟܐ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Etymology

Root
ܩ ܘ ܡ (q w m)
11 terms

The inherited form is /kiː/, from the older form ܟܵܐ (kā), itself from the older form *ܩܵܐ (*qā), related to ܩܵܐܸܡ (qāˀim). Compare Turoyo ܟܳܐ (kō). Attested also in other Aramaic languages. In the 13th century, the Syriac writer Bar Ebroyo notes this feature (in the form of ܟܵܐ (kā)) among the speakers of the colloquial East Syriac of his day, the ancestor of modern Assyrian Neo-Aramaic.

Pronunciation

• (Standard) IPA^(key): [keː]
• (Ashiret) IPA^(key): [iː]
• (Nineveh Plains) IPA^(key): [k.]

  (Zakho) IPA^(key): [ɡ., k.]

• (Urmia) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃiː], [t͡ʃə]

Particle

ܟܹܐ • (kē)

1. a verbal prefix that when placed before the subjunctive of the verb indicates the indicative mode, the sign of the habitual and historic present and imperfect
   1. (auxiliary) Used to express the present tense

      ܟܹܐ ܐܵܙܹܠ ― kē āzēl ― He goes

   2. (auxiliary, used with ܗ݇ܘܵܐ (wā)) Used to express the imperfect tense

      ܟܹܐ ܐܵܙܹܠ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ― kē āzēl wā ― He used to go.

   3. (auxiliary, with ܠܵܐ (lā)) Used to indicate a future non-occurring action; won’t

      ܠܵܐ ܟܹܐ ܐܵܙܸܠ ― lā kē āzil ― He will not go.

Usage notes

In some dialects, when combined after ܠܵܐ (lā, “no”), yields ܠܹܐ (lē)

Numeral

ܟܐ • (21)

1. number twenty-one (21)