ܩܝ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Etymology

Related to Classical Syriac ܟܲܝ (kay, “interrogative enclitic, rhetorical and/or expressing uncertainty”) with the same meaning as the first meaning of the usage of this term as a particle. Also found in Turoyo ܩܰܝ (qai).

Pronunciation

• (Standard) IPA^(key): [qaj]

Adverb

ܩܲܝ • (qay)

1. (interrogative) why?, for what?

   ܩܲܝ ܐ݇ܬ݂ܹܐ ܠܘܿܟ݂ ܠܐܵܟ݂ܵܐ؟ ― qay ṯē lōḵ l-āḵā? ― Why did you come here?

2. (fused relative) The cause, reason, or purpose for which

   ܐ݇ܡܘܿܪ ܠܹܗ ܩܲܝ ܐ݇ܬ݂ܹܐ ܠܘܿܟ݂ ― mōr lēh qay ṯē lōḵ ― Tell him why you came.

Particle

ܩܲܝ • (qay)

1. interrogative enclitic, rhetorical and/or expressing uncertainty, doubt, or interrogation

   ܩܲܝ ܚܡܵܪܵܐ ܝܘܸܬ ܕܠܵܐ ܝܘܸܬ ܒܸܦܪܵܡܝܼ؟ ― qay ḥmārā ìwet d-lā ìwet biprāmī? ― Why-, are you a donkey that you aren’t understanding me?

   ܠܵܐ ܝܘܸܬ ܒܵܒܹܗ ܩܲܝ؟ ܣܓ݂ܝܼ ܪܲܒܝܼ ܠܹܗ ܐܲܢ݇ܬ ― lā ìwet bābēh qay? sḡī rabī lēh at ― Why, aren’t you his father? You go educate him.

   ܠܵܐ ܩܸܡ ܐܵܡܪܸܢ ܠܵܟ݂ܝ ܩܲܝ ܬܸܡܵܠܝ؟ ― lā qim āmrin lāḵ qay timmāl? ― Why, didn’t I tell you yesterday?

   ܠܲܝܬ ܒܘܿܟ݂ ܩܲܝ ܐܵܬ݂ܹܝܬ؟ ― layt bōḵ qay āṯēt? ― Why, can’t you come?

   ܠܵܐ ܟܹܐ ܡܵܠܲܝܢ݇ ܩܲܝ ܙܘܼ̈ܙܹܐ ܕܙܵܒ݂ܢܲܚ ܠܹܗ؟ ― lā kē mālay qay zūzē dzāḇnaḥ lēh? ― Why, is our money not enough to buy it?

2. particle used for expressing and stating addition information

   ܩܲܝ ܦܲܘܠܘܿܣ، ܟܠܝܘܿܡ ܓܹܢ݇ܒܹܗ ܒܸܥܕ݂ܵܪܹܗ ― qay pawlōs, klyōm gēbēh biˁḏārēh ― Also even Paul, who is with him helping him daily.