ܕܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ؟
Dakhit?
The phrase "how are you?" in Aramaic is expressed as ܕܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ؟ (Dakhit?).
This phrase is a common greeting used to inquire about a person's current state of well-being.
How do you pronounce it?
Dakhit?
Did you know?
- Because Aramaic was the 'lingua franca' of the Neo-Assyrian and Persian Empires, the logic of asking ܕܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ؟ once bridged communication between dozens of different ethnic groups across the Middle East.
- In some Aramaic dialects, asking ܕܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ؟ can be answered with ܒܫܠܡܐ, which literally means 'in peace' rather than 'I am well'.
- In certain Eastern Aramaic dialects, the verb ending for 'you' changes based entirely on the gender of the person you are addressing, so a man and a woman would hear slightly different endings.
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street.
- ܠܝܠܝ Lilyܫܠܡܐ ܓܒܪܐܝܠ، ܕܐܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ؟shlama Gabriel, d'akhi ywet?Hello Gabriel, how are you?
- ܓܒܪܐܝܠ Gabrielܐܝܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ، ܘܐܢ̱ܬ݂ܝ؟ikhi ywet, w-anti?I am fine, and you?
- ܠܝܠܝ Lilyܐܝܟ݂ܝܼ ܝܘܸܬ ܬܘܕܐ.ikhi ywet tuda.I am fine, thanks.
- ܓܒܪܐܝܠ Gabrielܫܘܒ݂ܚܐ ܠܐܠܗܐ.shubha l'alaha.Glory to God.
