ܣܒܬܐ
sawta
The Aramaic word for grandma is ܣܒܬܐ (sawta).
The term is used to refer to a grandmother.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sawta.
Did you know?
- The word ܣܒܬܐ is derived from the root for 'old age', meaning a grandmother is literally described as 'the old woman'.
- Because Aramaic is a Semitic language, the word ܣܒܬܐ shares a distant ancestral root with the Hebrew word סבתא, making them cognates.
- Aramaic treats the concept of 'grandmother' and 'grandfather' using the same root ܣܒ, simply changing the gender of the ending.
Example conversation
Maryam and Gabriel are talking about their family visit.
- מריאם Mariamܐܝܟܢܐ ܣܒܬܐ ܣܒܪܐ ܕܒܐܢܢ?Aykana Sabbata sabra d-banan?How is grandma doing?
- גבריאל Gabrielܣܒܬܐ ܗܝ ܫܠܝܡܐ.Sabbata hi shlima.Grandma is doing well.
- מריאם Mariamܐܢܐ ܪܙܐ ܣܒܬܐ.Ana raza Sabbata.I miss grandma.
- גבריאל Gabrielܢܗܘܐ ܢܚܙܝ ܠܗܐ.Nahwa nahzi laha.We will go see her.
