عيسى

See also: عیسی, عیسیٰ, and عيشي

Arabic

Etymology

The form is first attested in the Koran and is of uncertain origin. While the Christian Arabic name يسوع (Yasūʽ) can be considered a phonetically regular equivalent of Hebrew ישוע (Yešūaʽ), which is and has been believed to be Jesus’ historic name, the Koranic عيسى (ʽĪsā) seems to be a phonetic modification. Several theories have been brought forward to explain why the letter ayn was apparently shifted from the last to the first position. It has been noted that ayn was not pronounced in some dialects of Aramaic, including that likely spoken by Jesus himself (compare for this Hebrew ישו). Moreover, there are indications that an unetymological word-initial ayn may have occurred more often in Arabic loans from Aramaic. Another popular theory, however unacceptable for Muslims, is that Muḥammad or whoever compiled the Qurʾăn confused Jesus with Esau, in Arabic عيسو (ʽĪsaw)—possibly due to an anti-Christian nickname used by Arabian Jews. For more information, see Isa (name) on wikipedia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʕiː.saː/

Proper noun

عِيسَى • (ʕīsā) m

1. (Islam) Jesus (Isa), son of Mary, revered as a major prophet in Islam
2. a male given name, Isa

Declension

Declension of noun عِيسَى (ʕīsā)

Singular	singular invariable
	Indefinite	Definite	Construct
Informal	—	عِيسَى ʕīsā	—
Nominative	—	عِيسَى ʕīsā	—
Accusative	—	عِيسَى ʕīsā	—
Genitive	—	عِيسَى ʕīsā	—

Usage notes

عِيسَى (ʕīsā) is used almost exclusively in Islamic contexts. Arabic-speaking Christians call Jesus يَسُوع (Yasūʽ), which is also the name generally used in secular contexts.

Related terms

• يَسُوع (yasūʕ)
• عِيسَوِيّ (ʕīsawiyy)

Descendants

• Bashkir: Ғайса (Ğaysa)
• Kabyle: Ɛisa
• Persian: عیسی
• Turkish: İsa

See also

• مَسِيح (masīḥ, “Messiah, Christ”)
• (Islamic prophets) آدَم (ʔādam), إِدْرِيس (ʔidrīs), نُوح (nūḥ), هُود (hūd), صَالِح (ṣāliḥ), إِبْرَاهِيم (ʔibrāhīm), لُوط (lūṭ), إِسْمَاعِيل (ʔismāʕīl), إِسْحَاق (ʔisḥāq), يَعْقُوب (yaʕqūb), يُوسُف (yūsuf), أَيُّوب (ʔayyūb), ذُو الْكِفْل (ḏū l-kifl), شُعَيْب (šuʕayb), مُوسَى (mūsā), هَارُون (hārūn), دَاوُد (dāwūd), سُلَيْمَان (sulaymān), يُونُس (yūnus), إِلْيَاس (ʔilyās), الْيَسَع (al-yasaʕ), زَكَرِيَّا (zakariyyā), يَحْيَى (yaḥyā), عِيسَى (ʕīsā), مُحَمَّد (muḥammad) ^{(Category: ar:Islamic prophets)}