ܛܒܐ
ṭāḇā
The Aramaic word for "good" is ܛܒܐ (ṭāḇā).
This adjective is used to describe things that are pleasant or enjoyable.
Meaning: pleasant, enjoyable (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
ṭāḇā
Did you know?
- The Aramaic alphabet is an 'abjad', meaning it historically didn't write the vowels. A reader seeing ܛܒܐ might not know how to pronounce it without specialized vowel marks called 'dots' or 'vocalization'.
- The word ܛܒܐ is a cognate of the Hebrew word טוב, meaning 'good'. These two words share a common ancestor in a prehistoric language called Proto-Semitic.
- In religious Syriac texts, ܛܒܐ moves beyond 'pleasant' to describe a person as 'virtuous' or as a state of spiritual perfection.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Rozy are discussing their day.
- ܓܒܪܐܝܠ Gabrielܐܲܝܟܲܢ ܗܹܝ ܫܲܘܪܲܟ݂ ܪܘܙܝ؟Aykan hei shaurakh Rozy?How is your day, Rozy?
- ܪܘܙܝ Rosyܫܲܘܪܲܝ ܛܒܐ ܗܹܝ.Shauray taba hei.My day is good.
- ܓܒܪܐܝܠ Gabrielܐܲܝܟܲܢ ܗܹܝ ܗܲܕܐ ܚܲܝܼܐ؟Aykan hei hada hayya?How is this life?
- ܪܘܙܝ Rosyܚܲܝܼܐ ܛܒܐ ܗܹܝ ܠܲܢ.Hayya taba hei lan.Life is pleasant for us.
