ܡܛܒ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Etymology

Univerbation of ܡܵܐ (mā) +‎ ܛܵܒ݂ܵܐ (ṭāḇā), literally “what good”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [mɑːtˤɑwː]

Adverb

ܡܵܛܵܒ݂ • (māṭāḇ)

1. (colloquial, dialectal, interrogative) how?

   Synonyms: ܕܵܐܟ݂ܝܼ (dāḵī), ܐܲܝܟܲܢܵܐ (aykannā)

   ܡܵܛܵܒ݂ ܒܪܹܐ ܠܵܗ̇؟ ― māṭāḇ brē lāh? ― How did that happen?

   ܡܵܛܵܒ݂ܸܬ؟ ― māṭāḇit? ― How are you? (to a male)

   ܡܵܛܵܒ݂ܲܬܝ؟ ― māṭāḇat? ― How are you? (to a female)

   ܡܵܛܵܒ݂ܝܼܬܘܿܢ؟ ― māṭāḇītōn? ― How are you? (to a group)