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ءيا

Root entry · 17 derived lemmas

This root primarily deals with interrogative and conditional particles, often functioning as pronouns or adverbs. It encompasses words used to ask 'which' or 'who', express conditions, and in some cases, convey exclamation or emphasis. The root also touches upon oaths and demonstrative particles.

Derived headwords

أَيparticle
  1. 1.
    which/who (interrogative)both

    A particle used to inquire about a specific person or thing from a group, whether rational or irrational.

  2. 2.
    which/who (conditional)both

    Used in conditional sentences, often implying a choice or consequence.

  3. 3.
    which/who (exclamatory)classical

    Expresses surprise or admiration about a person or thing.

  4. 4.
    which/who (relative pronoun)classical

    Functions as a relative pronoun, meaning 'the one who' or 'the one which'.

أي: حرف استفهام عما يعقل وما لا يعقل — Ay: a particle of inquiry about what is rational and what is not rational.
لأضربن أيهم أفضل — I will surely strike whichever of them is best.
أي رجل زيد — What a man Zayd is!
أَيُّهُمَاpronoun
  1. 1.
    whichever of the twoboth

    A dual pronoun used to refer to one of two options or individuals.

تنظرت نصرا والسماكين أيهما — I looked at Nasr and the two Pleiades, whichever of them...
أَيُّنَاpronoun
  1. 1.
    whichever of usclassical

    A pronoun referring to one person from a group that includes the speaker.

إنما يريد أينا كان شرا — He only means whichever of us was evil.
أَيُّكَpronoun
  1. 1.
    whichever of youclassical

    A pronoun referring to one person from a group addressed.

فأيي ما وأيك كان شرا — And whichever of us and whichever of you was evil...
أَيَّانَadverb
  1. 1.
    when (interrogative)both

    An adverb used to ask about time, similar to 'mata'.

  2. 2.
    when (conditional)classical

    Used in conditional clauses to refer to a future time.

ويقال: أي وأيان وأيون — And they say: ay, ayan, and ayun.
أَيُّونpronoun
  1. 1.
    which ones (plural)classical

    A plural form of 'ay' used interrogatively or relatively.

ويقال: أي وأيان وأيون — And they say: ay, ayan, and ayun.
أَيَّةpronoun
  1. 1.
    which (feminine singular)both

    The feminine singular form of 'ay', used interrogatively or relatively.

  2. 2.
    which (feminine singular, exclamatory)classical

    Used to express admiration or surprise regarding a feminine singular entity.

وزودوك اشتياقا أية سلكوا — And they provided you with longing, whichever path you took.
وتقول: رأيت ظبية، فتقول: أية — And you say: I saw a female deer, and you say: 'Aya' (which one).
أَيَّتَانpronoun
  1. 1.
    which two (feminine)classical

    The feminine dual form of 'ay'.

فقالوا أية وأيتان وأيات — So they said: 'aya', 'ayatan', and 'ayatin'.
أَيَّاتpronoun
  1. 1.
    which ones (feminine plural)classical

    The feminine plural form of 'ay'.

فقالوا أية وأيتان وأيات — So they said: 'aya', 'ayatan', and 'ayatin'.
أَيُّوهَاparticle
  1. 1.
    O (vocative particle)both

    A particle used to call out to a masculine singular noun preceded by 'al-'.

يا أيها الرجل أقبل — O man, come forth.
أَيَّتُهَاparticle
  1. 1.
    O (vocative particle, feminine)both

    A particle used to call out to a feminine singular noun preceded by 'al-'.

يا أيتها المرأة — O woman.
أَيُّنَاpronoun
  1. 1.
    whichever of usclassical

    A pronoun referring to one person from a group that includes the speaker.

وإنا أو إياكم لعلى هدى أو في ضلال مبين — And indeed, we or you are upon guidance or in manifest error.
أَيُّكُمْpronoun
  1. 1.
    whichever of youclassical

    A pronoun referring to one person from a group addressed.

علموا أني أوفى وفاء وأنتم أظلم — They knew that I fulfill promises most, and you are the most unjust.
أَيَّا مَاadverb
  1. 1.
    whereverboth

    An adverb meaning 'wherever' or 'no matter where'.

صحبه الله أيا ما توجه — May God accompany him wherever he goes.
إِيparticle
  1. 1.
    yes (in oaths)classical

    A particle used in oaths, equivalent to 'yes' or 'indeed', often preceding 'wallahi'.

قل إي وربي إنه لحق — Say: Yes, by my Lord, it is the truth.
كَأَيِّنparticle
  1. 1.
    how manyclassical

    An interrogative particle used to ask about a large quantity, similar to 'kam'.

  2. 2.
    how many (exclamatory)classical

    Used to express wonder at the multitude of something.

وكأين من قرية — And how many a town (did We destroy).
كَائِنadjective
  1. 1.
    existingclassical

    Derived from 'kayyin', meaning existing or happening.

وكائن بزنة كاعن مغير من قولهم كأين — And 'ka'in' is in the pattern of 'ka'in', changed from their saying 'kayyin'.

Parallel reading

أي: حرف استفهام عما يعقل وما لا يعقل
Ay: a particle of inquiry about what is rational and what is not rational.
فلما اجتمع فيه التعريف والتأنيث منع الصرف
And when definiteness and femininity combined in it, it was prevented from inflection (diptote).
تنظرت نصرا والسماكين أيهما علي من الغيث استهلت مواطره
I looked at Nasr and the two Pleiades, whichever of them had its rain-waters poured forth upon me.
إنما أراد أيهما، فاضطر فحذف كما حذف الآخر في قوله
He only intended 'ayuhuma', and was compelled to delete, just as he deleted the other in his saying.
وقالوا: لأضربن أيهم أفضل
And they said: I will surely strike whichever of them is best.
وسألت الخليل عن أيي وأيك كان شرا فأخزاه الله
And I asked Al-Khalil about 'ayyaya' and 'ayk' who was evil, and may God humiliate him.
إنما يريد منا فإنما أراد أينا كان شرا
He only means 'minna', for he intended 'ayyun' who was evil.
فأيي ما وأيك كان شرا
And whichever of us and whichever of you was evil...
إني أو إياك فرعون هذه الأمة
Indeed, I or you are the Pharaoh of this nation.
صحبه الله أيا ما توجه
May God accompany him wherever he goes.
تكون استفهاما، وتكون تعجبا، وتكون شرطا
It can be interrogative, exclamatory, or conditional.
لنعلم أي الحزبين أحصى لما لبثوا أمدا
That We may know which of the two groups is more precise in counting what they had stayed [for] a duration.
وسيعلم الذين ظلموا أي منقلب ينقلبون
And those who have wronged are already going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.
ثم لننزعن من كل شيعة أيهم أشد على الرحمن عتيا
Then We will surely extract from every sect whoever is most stubborn against the Most Merciful.
أيا ما تدعوا
Whatever you call upon.
وزودوك اشتياقا أية سلكوا
And they provided you with longing, whichever path you took.
قل إي وربي إنه لحق
Say: Yes, by my Lord, it is the truth.
وكأين من قرية
And how many a town (did We destroy).