Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

From ܨܝܼܢܵܐ (ṣīnā, China) +‎ -ܝܐ (-āyā, the attributive adjective ending).

Pronunciation

edit
  • (Standard) IPA(key): [sˤiːnɑːjɑː]

Adjective

edit

ܨܝܼܢܵܝܵܐ (ṣīnāyā) (feminine ܨܝܼܢܵܝܬܵܐ (ṣīnāytā), plural ܨܝܼܢܵܝܹ̈ܐ (ṣīnāyē))

  1. Chinese (of, from, or pertaining to China, the Chinese culture or Chinese people)

Noun

edit

ܨܝܼܢܵܝܵܐ (ṣīnāyām (plural ܨܝܼܢܵܝܹ̈ܐ (ṣīnāyē), feminine ܨܝܼܢܵܝܬܵܐ (ṣīnāytā))

  1. Chinese (A person from China or of Chinese descent)

Usage notes

edit

Although ܟ̰ܝܼܢܵܝܵܐ (čīnāyā) is the most common form in the spoken language, there is a push for ܨܝܼܢܵܝܵܐ (ṣīnāyā) to be used more often, especially in writing. Due to it being ambiguous with ܟܝܵܢܵܝܵܐ (kyānāyā, natural) in unvocalised writing.

Inflection

edit