ܕܐܟܝ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Alternative forms

• ܕܐܲܝܟ݂ (d-ayḵ), ܕܐܲܟ݂ (d-aḵ), ܕܐܲܟ݂ܝܼ (d-aḵī), ܕܐܲܝܟ݂ܝܼ (d-ayḵī)

Etymology

Univerbation of ܕ (d-) +‎ ܐܲܝܟ݂ (ayḵ, “as”), from Aramaic אַיךּ (ayk). In Old Aramaic, אַיךּ (ayk) was used in the adverbial sense of “how”. Compare a similar construct in Classical Syriac ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܕ- (ʾāḵ d-, “how”) and Hebrew אֵיךְ (éykh, “how”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard) IPA^(key): [daːxiː]
• (Nineveh Plains) IPA^(key): [dɪxi], [dɪx]

Adverb

ܕܵܐܟ݂ܝܼ • (dāḵī)

1. (interrogative) how

   Synonyms: (dialectal) ܡܵܛܸܒ݂ (māṭiḇ), (formal) ܐܲܝܟܲܢܵܐ (aykannā)

   ܕܵܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ؟ ― dāḵī ìwet? ― How are you? (to a male)

   ܕܵܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܲܬܝ؟ ― dāḵī wat? ― How are you? (to a female)

   ܕܵܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܬܘܿܢ؟ ― dāḵī ìtōn? ― How are you? (to a group)

2. (interrogative) what sort, kind
3. (usually with the final yod, polite) what was that?, excuse me?, what?, come again?

   Synonym: ܒܹܐܢܵܐ (bēnā)

   ܕܵܐܟ݂ܝܼ؟ ܠܵܐ ܫܡܝܼܥܵܐ ܠܝܼ

   dāḵī? lā šmīˁā lī

   What was that? I didn’t hear it.

4. (usually without the final yod) of course, surely, duh

   ܒܲܣܝܼܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ؟ ܕܵܐܟ݂ ― basīmā ìlēh? dāḵ ― Is it tasty? Of course!

Derived terms

• ܕܵܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܕ- (dāḵī d-, “as, In the (same) way or manner that; to the (same) degree that”)