quid ais

Latin

Etymology

From quid (“what”) + aī̆s (“you say”), the 2nd person sg. of aiō (“I say”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈkʷi.da.iːs/, [ˈkʷɪd̪äiːs̠] or IPA^(key): /ˈkʷi.da.is/, [ˈkʷɪd̪äɪs̠] (stressed as a word-group)
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /kwid ˈa.is/, [kwid̪ ˈäːis]
• Note: the -i- of the ending was phonemically long for Plautus, subject to iambic shortening.

Phrase

quid aī̆s

1. (colloquial, indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, the previous remark; to express skepticism) eh?, what?, what did you say?, what are you saying?, you don't say!
   • c. 190 BCE – 185 BCE, Plautus, Amphitryon I.1.363:

     MERCVRIVS: Quis erus est igitur tibī?
     SOSIA: Amphitruō, quī nunc praefectust Thēbānīs legiōnibus, quīcum nūpta est Alcumēna.
     MERCVRIVS: Quid aīs?! Quid nōmen tibī est?
     SOSIA: Sōsiam vocant Thēbānī […]
     MERCVRIVS: Tūn' tē audēs Sōsiam esse dīcere, quī ego sum?

     MERCURY: Who's your master then?
     SOSIA: Amphitryon, who is now in command of the Theban forces, to whom Alcmena is married.
     MERCURY: You what?! What's your name?
     SOSIA: The Thebans call me Sosia […]
     MERCURY: You dare say that you're Sosia, which is me?

2. (colloquial, followed by a question, attracting the addressee's attention) tell me, what do you say?
   • c. 254 BCE – 184 BCE, Plautus, Trinumus :

     CHARMIDES: (After talking to himself) Sed quid aīs, quō inde īstī porrō?

     But tell me, where did you go next?

   • 161 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Eunuchus 3.2:

     THAIS: Ita mē dī ament honestust.
     PARMENO: Quid tū aīs, Gnathō? Numquid habēs quod contemnās? Quid tū autem, Thrasō? Tacent: satis laudant. Fac perīclum in līterīs, fac in palaestrā, in mūsicīs: quae līberum scīre aequom est adolēscentem sollertem dabō.

     THAIS: God bless me he's handsome.
     PARMENO: What do you say, Gnatho? Do you see anything to find fault with? And what say you, Thraso? They're speechless, which is praise enough. Test him on literature, athletics, music; I'll warrant him well skilled in everything a gentleman should know.

See also

• quid agis?
• quid est?