ܗܕܟ

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Etymology

From ܗܵܐ (hā, “here, behold”) +‎ ܕܐܲܟ݂ (d-aḵ, “how”). Compare the same formation in Classical Syriac ܗܵܟ݂ܲܢܹܐ (hāḵannā), from ܗܵܐ (hā, “here, behold”) +‎ ܐܲܝܟܲܢܵܐ (aykannā, “how”).

Pronunciation

• (standard) IPA^(key): [haːdax]

Preposition

ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ • (hādaḵ)

1. as such, like this, in this manner, thus

   ܥܒ݂ܘܿܕ݂ ܠܹܗ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ ― ˁḇōḏ lēh hādaḵ ― Do it like this.

   ܠܵܐ ܐܵܡܪܹܬ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂! ― Don’t say that/this! (literally, “Don’t say like this!”)

   ܠܵܐ ܟܹܐ ܒܵܥܝܵܢ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ ܡܸܢܕܝܼܵܢܹ̈ܐ ― lā kē bāˁyān hādaḵ mindīyānē ― I don’t like such things. (literally, “I don’t like things like this.”)

2. somewhat, kind of
3. just because, for no reason

Usage notes

• In many dialects of colloquial Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, its mostly synonymous adverb ܗܵܕܟ݂ܵܐ (hādḵā) is more common except in various fixed expressions (such as the derived terms below).
• In many dialects this word can be used as a one-word non-reply (like English because) to questions (including one-word questions) starting with ܩܵܡܘܿܕܝܼ (qāmōdī, “why”) or the like.

Derived terms

• ܐܝܼܵܗ݇ܕܲܟ݂ (īyādaḵ, “just like this”)
• ܠܲܝܬ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ (layt hādaḵ, “No way!”)
• ܟܠ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ (kul hādaḵ, “so”)
• ܡ̣ܢ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ (min hādaḵ, “therefore”)
• ܒܵܬ݇ܪ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ (bār hādaḵ, “after, afterward”)
• ܩܲܕ݇ܡ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ (qam hādaḵ, “before, beforehand”)
• ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ (hādaḵ mindī, “something like this”)
• ܠܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܗܵܕܲܟ݂ (lā ìlēh hādaḵ, “Isn’t it so?”)