Assyrian Neo-Aramaic edit

Root
ܚ ܝ ܐ (ḥ y ˀ)
6 terms

Etymology edit

Probably developed to distinguish it from the other meanings in the original feminine adjective ܚܲܝܬ݂ܵܐ (ḥayṯā), which can mean alive, as well as raw, midwife, woman who is giving birth, or woman who has recently given birth.

Pronunciation edit

  • (standard) IPA(key): [bəxaj.jeː]
  • (Nineveh Plains) IPA(key): [biːxaːjeː]
  • (Urmian) IPA(key): [biːxajjeː]

Adjective edit

ܒܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ (b-ḥayyē)

  1. alive, living (literally, “in life”)
    Synonym: ܚܲܝܵܐ (ḥayyā)
    Antonym: ܡܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ (mīṯā)
    ܟܠ ܝܘܿܡ ܕܝܼܘܲܚ ܒܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܫܘܼܕ ܡܵܘܕܲܚ ܠܐܲܠܵܗܲܢ
    kul yōm d-īwaḥ bḥayyē šūd māwdaḥ l-allāhan
    Every day we are alive, we should thank our God.
    (literally, “Every day we are in life, we should thank our God.”)

Usage notes edit

  • Grammatically speaking, this is a prepositional clause, not a true adjective; hence, it doesn’t inflect for gender or number.