আই

See also: আয় and আইতা

Assamese

Etymology

Inherited from Early Assamese আই (ai), ultimately from Proto-Indo-Aryan *āyiH. Probably a nursery word. Cognate with Kamta আঈ (ai) / ai. Compare Bodo (India) आइ (ai), Marathi आई (āī).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aɪ/

Noun

আই • (ai)

1. mother, mom

   Synonyms: মা (ma), আম্মা (amma)

2. pox

Usage notes

Like other Assamese kinship nouns, আই (ai) uses the -এক (-ek) suffix for 3rd person. 2nd person can get the -এৰে (-ere) suffix for contemptuous manner. For example,

• মোৰ আই ― mür ai ― My mother
• আপোনাৰ আই ― apünar ai ― Your mother
• তোৰ আয়েৰে ― tür ayere ― Your mother
• তাৰ আয়েক ― tar ayek ― His mother

Early Assamese

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-Aryan *āī. Probably a nursery word.

Noun

আই (ai)

1. mother, mom

   Synonym: মাৱ (mawo)

   • 16th century, Ram Saraswati, Mahabharata Virata parva:

     মোহোৰ মালিনা নাম থৈলন্ত আপোনে।
     সেহি আইক হৰুৱাই আইলো তব থানে॥

     möhöro malina namo thoilonto apöne,
     sehi aiko horuwai ailö tobo thane.

     My relative gave me my name Malina.
     Losing that mother I came to your place.