ܡܝܐ
mayyāClassical Syriac, masculine, plural
The word for water in Aramaic is ܡܝܐ (mayyā). Wiktionary also lists מַיָּא (mayyā) and ܡܝ̈ܐ (mayyā).
Meaning: inorganic compound H₂O (noun)
Ways to say it
| Aramaic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ܡܝܐ | mayyā | Classical Syriac, masculine, plural |
| מַיָּא | mayyā | masculine, plural |
| ܡܝ̈ܐ | mayyā | Syriac, masculine, plural |
The word refers to the inorganic compound H₂O.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The forms ܡܝܐ and ܡܝ̈ܐ are specifically identified as Syriac.
How does it change in a sentence?
The provided forms of the word for water are all masculine and plural.
How do you pronounce it?
mayyā
Did you know?
- In Aramaic, the word ܡܝܐ is grammatically plural, even though it refers to a single substance. Hebrew מים behaves the same way.
- The Aramaic word for water is a cognate of the Hebrew word מים and the Arabic word ماء. All three share a common root from the ancient Semitic language family.
- In many Aramaic dialects, the word for 'water' is used as a metaphor for 'life' or 'vitality' in poetry and religious texts. To speak of 'living waters' often refers to spiritual nourishment rather than physical hydration.
Examples in context
- ܡܝܐ ܐܝܬ ܠܝ.mya ith li.I have water.
- ܐܝܬ ܡܝܐ ܒܟܣܐ.ith mya b-kasa.There is water in the cup.
- ܫܬܝ ܡܝܐ.sh-ti mya.Drink water.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “water” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
