See also: آیا, ايا, and إيا

Persian edit

Etymology edit

Sound-symbolic.

Pronunciation edit

 

Readings
Classical reading? ayā
Dari reading? ayā
Iranian reading? ʔayɒː
Tajik reading? ayo

Interjection edit

ایا (ayâ)

  1. (archaic, poetic) o, alas, yea; a generic exclamation in classical poetry.
    • c. 1390, Shams-ud-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiẓ, “Ghazal 162”, in دیوان حافظ [The Divān of Ḥāfiẓ]‎[1]:
      ایا پرلعل کرده جام زرین
      ببخشا بر کسی کش زر نباشد
      ayā pur-la'l karda jām-i zarrīn
      bibaxšā bar kasē k-aš zarr na-bāšad
      O, the golden goblet has been filled with ruby [i.e. wine];
      Bestow it on he who has no gold.
      (Classical Persian transliteration)