يا

Root entry · 9 derived lemmas

This entry discusses the Arabic particle 'ya' (يا), primarily used for vocative address. It also explores its function as a possessive suffix for the first-person singular pronoun, its use in expressing exclamation, and its role as a feminine marker in verb conjugations.

Derived headwords

يَاparticle

1.
a letter from the alphabetboth
a letter from the alphabet
2.
one of the letters of augmentationboth
one of the letters of augmentation
3.
one of the letters of prolongation and softnessboth
one of the letters of prolongation and softness
4.
a particle used for calling both near and farboth
a particle used for calling both near and far

يا قوم — O people

يا زيد أقبل — O Zayd, come forth

يا لك من قبرة بمعمر — O what a bird you are, O Qubba!

ألا يا اسجدوا لله — Behold, prostrate yourselves to Allah

ـيَsuffix

1.
first-person possessive suffixboth
A suffix attached to nouns to indicate possession by the first-person singular speaker (my). It can be vocalized with a fatha or sukūn.
2.
first-person object suffixboth
A suffix attached to verbs, preceded by a nūn al-wiqāyah (nun of protection), to indicate the first-person singular object (me).

ثوبي وغلامي — my garment and my boy

ضربني — he hit me

بمصرخينى — calling me for help

منىname

1.
he made another wish, a wishingboth
he made another wish, a wishing
2.
from the category of ramā (to throw)both
from the category of ramā (to throw)
3.
it was destined for him, i.e., it was decreedboth
it was destined for him, i.e., it was decreed
4.
shortened, a place in Mecca, and it is masculine and fully inflectedboth
shortened, a place in Mecca, and it is masculine and fully inflected

منى — Mina

عنىname

1.
and a people who are rebelliousboth
and a people who are rebellious
2.
the language of Hudhayl and Thaqif for 'until'both
the language of Hudhayl and Thaqif for 'until'
3.
he was concerned, caredboth
he was concerned, cared
4.
he troubled, caused difficultyboth
he troubled, caused difficulty
5.
He intended, meant.both
He intended, meant.
6.
He became tired and exhausted.both
He became tired and exhausted.
7.
He was concerned with his need.both
He was concerned with his need.

عنى — concerning me

ولدنىverb

1.
he gave birth to meclassical
A specific instance where the verb 'to give birth' is followed by the first-person suffix 'ya' without nūn al-wiqāyah.

ولدنى — he gave birth to me

قطنىname

1.
the word 'qatni'classical
A specific word where the suffix 'ya' is attached to indicate the first person, without a preceding nūn al-wiqāyah.

قطنى — my cat

افعليverb

1.
do (feminine singular imperative)both
do (feminine singular imperative)

افعلي — Do (you, feminine singular)

تفعلينverb

1.
you (feminine singular) doboth
you (feminine singular) do

أنت تفعلين — you (feminine singular) do

ياويةadjective

1.
a poem whose rhymes end in the letter yaboth
a poem whose rhymes end in the letter ya

قصيدة ياوية — a poem ending in 'ya'

Parallel reading

وهى من حروف الزيادات ومن حروف المد واللين

And it is among the augmentative letters and among the letters of extension and softness.

وقد يكنى بها عن المتكلم المجرور ذكرا كان أو أنثى

And it can be used as a pronoun for the first person in the genitive case, whether male or female.

وإن شئت فتحتها وإن شئت سكنت

And if you wish, you vocalize it with a fatha, and if you wish, you vocalize it with a sukūn.

ولك أن تحذفها في النداء خاصة

And you may omit it specifically in vocative address.

فإن جاءت بعد الالف فتحت لا غير

And if it comes after an alif, it is vocalized with a fatha and nothing else.

وأصله بمصرخينى

And its origin is 'bi-masrikhīnī'.

سقطت النون للاضافة

The nūn fell off due to annexation (idāfah).

فاجتمع الساكنان فحركت الثانية بالفتح لانها ياء المتكلم ردت إلى أصلها

And the two quiescent letters met, so the second was vocalized with a fatha because it is the 'yā' of the speaker, returned to its origin.

وكسرها بعض القراء توهما أن الساكن إذا حرك حرك بالكسر وليس بالوجه

And some reciters vocalized it with a kasra, mistakenly thinking that when a quiescent letter is vocalized, it is vocalized with a kasra, which is not the correct way.

وقد يكنى بها عن المتكلم المنصوب إلا أنه لا بد من تزاد قبلها نون وقاية للفعل ليسلم من الجر

And it can be used as a pronoun for the first person in the accusative case, except that it is necessary to add a nūn al-wiqāyah before it for the verb to be safe from being in the genitive case.

وقد زيدت في المجرور في أسماء مخصوصة لا يقاس عليها

And it has been added in the genitive case in specific nouns to which analogy does not apply.

وإنما فعلوا ذلك ليسلم السكون الذى بنى الاسم عليه

And they did that so that the quiescent state upon which the noun is built would be preserved.

وقد تكون الياء علامة للتأنيث

And the 'yā' can be a sign of femininity.

وتنسب القصيدة التى قوافيها على الياء ياوية

And a poem whose rhymes are on the 'yā' is attributed as 'yāwiyyah'.

ويا: حرف ينادى به القريب والبعيد

And 'yā': a particle by which the near and the far are called.

فهى كلمة تعجب

So it is a word of exclamation.

فالمعنى: ألا يا هؤلاء اسجدوا

So the meaning is: Behold, O you all, prostrate yourselves.

فحذف المنادى اكتفاء بحرف النداء

So the one being called is omitted, being satisfied with the vocative particle.

كما حذف حرف النداء اكتفاء بالمنادى في قوله تعالى: (يوسف أعرض عن هذا) إذا كان المراد معلوما

Just as the vocative particle was omitted, being satisfied with the one being called, in the saying of Allah the Almighty: (Yusuf, turn away from this) if what is intended is known.

وقال بعضهم: إن يا في هذا الموضع إنما هو للتنبيه

And some of them said: Indeed, 'yā' in this position is only for attention.

كأنه قال: ألا اسجدوا

As if he said: Behold, prostrate yourselves.

فلما دخل عليه يا للتنبيه سقطت الالف التى في اسجدوا لانها ألف وصل

And when 'yā' for attention entered upon it, the alif in 'asjudū' fell because it is an alif wasl.

وذهبت الالف التى في يا لاجتماع الساكنين

And the alif that is in 'yā' disappeared due to the meeting of two quiescent letters.

لانها والسين ساكنتان

Because it and the sīn are quiescent.

ألا يا اسلمي يا دار مى على البلى

Behold, be well, O dwelling of Mayy, despite decay.