ܟܘܣܐ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Etymology

Disputed:

• Most likely a metathesis of ܣܲܘܟܵܐ (sawkā, “twig”), from Aramaic סַוְכָּא (sawkā, “branch, bough, twig”), with the usage for “hair” seen in the cognate Turoyo ܣܰܘܟܐ (sawko, “hair”); compare also in Classical Syriac ܣܘܟܬܐ (sawkəṯā, “branch”).
• Also proposed is Classical Syriac ܩܘܨܬܐ (qawṣəṯā, “curl”), but very unlikely and posing many issues.
• Also proposed to be derived from the verb ܟܵܣܹܐ (kāsē, “to hide, conceal”).
• Also suggested to be a borrowing from Russian коса́ (kosá, “braid”).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• (Standard) IPA^(key): [kaw.sɑː]
• (Urmia) IPA^(key): [t͡ʃoːsɑː]
• (Tyari) IPA^(key): [kɑwːsɑː]

Noun

ܟܲܘܣܵܐ • (kawsā) m

1. (uncountable) hair (collection on head)

   ܟܲܘܣܝܼ ܐ݇ܟܘܿܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ. ― kawsī kōmā ìlēh. ― My hair is black.

Inflection

Inflection of ܟܲܘܣܵܐ

number	isolated forms			with possessive pronouns
	state	form		person	singular		plural
					m	f
singular	absolute	ܟܘܿܣ (kōs)		1st person	ܟܲܘܣܝܼ (kawsī)		ܟܲܘܣܲܢ (kawsan)
	construct	ܟܘܿܣ (kōs)		2nd person	ܟܲܘܣܘܼܟ݂ (kawsōḵ)	ܟܲܘܣܵܟ݂ܝ (kawsāḵ)	ܟܲܘܣܲܘܟ݂ܘܿܢ (kawsawḵōn)
	emphatic	ܟܲܘܣܵܐ (kawsā)		3rd person	ܟܲܘܣܹܗ (kawsēh)	ܟܲܘܣܵܗ̇ (kawsāh)	ܟܲܘܣܗܘܿܢ (kawshōn)

Derived terms

• ܟܲܘܣܵܐ ܕܣܵܒ݂ܬܵܐ (kawsā d-sāḇtā, “candy floss, fairy floss, cotton candy”, literally “grandmother’s hair”)
• ܚܘܵܪܟܲܘܣܵܐ (ḥwārkawsā, “elder, elderly woman”, literally “one of white hair”)
• ܣܲܘܟܲܬ݂ ܟܲܘܣܵܐ (sawkaṯ kawsā, “hairbrush”)

See also

• ܡܸܙܬܵܐ (miztā, “strand of hair”)
• ܣܲܥܪܵܐ (saˁrā, “hair”) (formal)
• ܣܥܲܪܬܵܐ (sˁartā, “strand of hair”) (formal)