Jewish Babylonian Aramaic

Babylonian Aramaic
Region	Babylonia, moderm day southern and some of central Iraq
Era	ca. 200–1200 CE
Language family	Afro-Asiatic Semitic Central Northwest Semitic Aramaic Eastern Aramaic Southeastern Babylonian Aramaic
Early forms	Old Aramaic Babylonian Aramaic
Writing system	Hebrew alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-3	tmr
Glottolog	jewi1240[1]

Babylonian Aramaic was the form of Middle Aramaic employed by writers in Babylonia between the 4th century and the 11th century CE. It is most commonly identified with the language of the Babylonian Talmud (which was completed in the seventh century) and of post-Talmudic (Geonic) literature, which are the most important cultural products of Babylonian Jews. The most important epigraphic sources for the dialect are the hundreds of Aramaic magic bowls written.^[2]

Classification and type

The language was closely related to other Eastern Aramaic dialects such as Mandaic and Syriac language. Its original pronunciation is uncertain, and has to be reconstructed with the help of these kindred dialects and of the reading tradition of the Yemenite Jews,^[3] and where available those of the Iraqi, Syrian and Egyptian Jews. The value of the Yemenite reading tradition has been challenged by some scholars.^[4] (The vocalized Aramaic texts with which Jews are familiar, from the Bible and the prayer book, are of limited usefulness for this purpose, as they are in a different dialect.)^[5]

Talmudic Aramaic bears all the marks of being a specialist language of study and legal argumentation, like Law French, rather than a vernacular mother tongue, and continued in use for these purposes long after Arabic had become the language of daily life. It has developed a battery of technical logical terms, such as tiyuvta (conclusive refutation) and tiqu (undecidable moot point), which are still used in Jewish legal writings, including those in other languages, and have influenced modern Hebrew.

Like the Judean (Galilean Aramaic) and Assyrian Jewish dialects it was written with Hebrew alphabet.

Grammar

Six major verbal patterns

There are six major verb stems or verbal patterns (binyanim) in Jewish Babylonian Aramaic. The form pe‘al (פְּעַל) “to do”, the form Aph'el (אַפְעֵל) “let do”, and the form Pa'el (פַּעֵל) “like to do”, are all in the active voice. But the form Itpe'el (אִתְפְּעֵל), the form Itaph'al (אִתַפְעַל) and the form Itpa'al (אִתְפַּעַל) are essentially reflexive and have usually function in a passive sense.^[6][7]

Aramaic binyan	Hebrew binyan	Aramaic example	Hebrew parallel	English translation
פְּעַל Pe'al	קַל Qal/Pa'al	כְּתַב	כָּתַב	he wrote
אִתְפְּעֵל Itpe'el	נִפְעַל Niphal	אִתְכְּתֵיב	נִכְּתַב	it was written
אַפְעֵל Aph'el	הִפְעִיל Hiphil	אַפְקֵד	הִפְקִיד	he deposited
אִתַפְעַל Itaph'al	הֻפְעַל Huph‘al	אִתַפְקַד	הֻפְקַד	it was deposited
פַּעֵל Pa'el	פִּעֵל Pi'el	קַדֵיש	קִדֵש	he sanctifed
אִתְפַּעַל Itpa'al	הִתְפַּעַל Nitpa'al	וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ	הִתְקַדַּשׁ	it was sanctifed

Verbal pattern (binyan): pe‘al (פְּעַל) Basic Verb - Active

past tense

Aramaic verb WROTE [8]	Hebrew verb parallel WROTE	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא כְּתַבִית	אֲנִי כָּתַבְתִּי	ana q'tavit	ani qatavti	I wrote
אַתְּ כְּתַבְתְּ	אַתָּה כָּתַבְתָּ	at q'tavt	ata qatavta	you (m.) wrote
אַתְּ כְּתַבְתְּ	אַתְּ כָּתַבְתְּ	at q'tavt	at qatavt	you (f.) wrote
הוּא כְּתַב	הוּא כָּתַב	u q'tav	u qatav	he wrote
הִיא כְּתַבָה	הִיא כָּתְּבָה	i q'tava	i qatva	she wrote
אֲנָן כְּתַבִינָן	אָנוּ כָּתַבְנוּ	anan q'tavinan	anu qatavnu	we wrote
אַתּוּ כְּתַבִיתּוּ	אַתֶּם כְּתַבְתֶּם	atu q'tavitu	atem qotvim	you (m.pl.) wrote
אינון כְּתַבוּ	הם כָּתְּבוּ	innun q'tavu	em qatvu	they (m.) wrote

Aramaic verb CAME [9]	Hebrew verb parallel CAME	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אֲתֵיתִי אֲנָא אֲתַאי	אֲנִי בָּאתִי	ana ateti/ana atai	ani bati	I came
אַתְּ אֲתֵית	אַתָּה בָּאתָ	at atet	ata bata	you (m.) came
אַתְּ ?	אַתְּ בָּאת	at ?	at bat	you (f.) came
הוּא אֲתָא	הוּא בָּא	u ata	hu ba	he came
הִיא אֲתָת הִיא אֲתַאי הִיא אתיא	הִיא בָּאָה	i atat/atai/atjia	hi ba'a	she came
אֲנָן אֲתַאן אֲנָן אֲתַן אֲנָן אֲתֵינַן	אָנוּ בָּאנוּ	anan atan/atenan	anu banu	we came
אַתּוּ אֲתֵיתוּ	אַתֶּם בָּאתֶם	atu atetu	atem batem	you (m.pl.) came
אינון אֲתוּ	הם בָּאוּ	innun atu	em ba'u	they (m.) came
אינין אֲתַיָין אינין אֲתַאָן יאינין אתן	הן בָּאוּ	innin attajan	en ba'u	they (f.) came

Participle

The Aramaic verb has two participles: an active participle with suffix ^[10] and a passive participle with suffix:^[11]

active participles with suffix

Aramaic active participle WRITE with suffix	Hebrew active participle WRITE	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
כָּתֵיב + אֲנָא ← כָּתֵיבְנָא	אֲנִי כּוֹתֵב	qatevna←qatev+ana	ani qotev	I write
כָּתֵיב + אַתְּ ← כָּתְבַתְּ	אַתָּה כּוֹתֵב	qatvat← qatev+ata	ata qotev	you write
כָּתְבִי + אֲנָן ← כָּתְבִינָן	אָנוּ כּוֹתְבִים	qatvinan←qatvi+anan	anu qotvim	we write
כָּתְבִי + אַתּוּ ← כָּתְבִיתּוּ	אַתֶּם כּוֹתְבִים	qatvitu← qatvi+atu	atem qotvim	you (pl.) write

Aramaic active participle COME with suffix[12]	Hebrew active participle COME	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אָתֵי / אָתְיָא + אֲנָא ← אָתֵינָא	אֲנִי בָּא	atena←ate+ana	ani ba	I come
אָתֵי / אָתְיָא + אַתְּ ← אָתֵיתְּ	אַתָּה בָּא	atet← ate+at	ata ba	You come
אָתוּ / אָתֵיָין + אֲנָן ← אָתִינָן	אָנוּ בָּאִים	atinan←atu+anan	anu ba'iim	we come

passive participle with suffix

Aramaic passive participle with suffix BUSY	Hebrew passive participle BUSY	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
עֲסִיק + אֲנָא ← עֲסִיקְנָא	אֲנִי עָסוּק	assiqna←assiq+ana	ani assuq	I am busy
עֲסִיק + אַתְּ ← עֲסִיקַתְּ	אַתָּה עָסוּק	assiqat← assiq+ata	ata assuq	you are busy
עֲסִיקִי + אֲנַן ← עֲסִיקִינַן	אָנוּ עֲסוּקִים	assiqinan←assiqi+anan	anu assuqim	we are busy
עֲסִיקִי + אַתּוּ ← עֲסִיקִיתּוּ	אַתֶּם עֲסוּקִים	assiqitu← assiqi+atu	atem assuqim	you (pl.) are busy

infinitive /gerund

Aramaic infinitive /gerund TO COME	Hebrew infinitive /gerund	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
(לְ)מֵיתֵי / לְמֵיתָא	(לָ)בוֹא	Lemeta/meteji	la'vo	TO COME

Future tense

Aramaic verb WILL WRITE [13]	Hebrew verb parallel WILL WRITE	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אֶיכְתּוֹב	אֲנִי אֶכְתּוֹב	ana aehtov	ani aehtov	I will write
אַתְּ תִּיכְתּוֹב	אַתָּה תִּכְתּוֹב	at tihtov	ata tihtov	You (m.sing.)will write
אַתְּ תִּיכְתְּבִין	אַתְּ תִּיכְתְּבִי	at tihtevin	at tihtevi	You (f.sing.) will write
הוּא לִיכְתּוֹב	הוּא יִכְתּוֹב	u lihtov	u jihtov	He will write
הִיא תִּיכְתּוֹב	הִיא תִּכְתּוֹב	i tihtov	i tihtov	She will write
אֲנָן לִיכְתּוֹב	אָנוּ נִכְתּוֹב	anan lihtov	anu nihtov	We will write
אַתּוּ תִּיכְתְּבוּן	אַתֶּם תִּיכְתְּבוּ	atu tihtevu	atem tihtevun	you (m.pl.) will write
אינון לִיכְתְּבוּן	הם יכְתְּבוּ	innun laphqedu	em japhqidu	they (m.pl.) will write

Verbal pattern (binyan): Itpe'el (אִתְפְּעֵל) Basic Verb - Passive

past tense

Aramaic verb WAS/WERE WRITTEN [14]	Hebrew verb parallel WAS/WERE WRITTEN	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אִי(תְ)כְּתֵיבִית	אֲנִי נִכְתַבְתִּי	ana itq'tevit	ani nihtavti	I was written
אַתְּ אִי(תְ)כְּתַבְתְּ	אַתָּה נִכְתַבְתָּה	at itq'tavt	ata nihtavta	you (m.s.) were written
אַתְּ אִי(תְ)כְּתַבְתְּ	אַתְּ נִכְתַבְתְּ	at itq'tavt	at nihtavt	you (f.s.) were written
הוּא אִי(תְ)כְּתֵיב	הוּא נִכְתַבְ	u itq'tev	u nihtav	it (m.) was written
הִיא אִי(תְ)כַּתְבָה	הִיא נִכְתְּבָה	i itqatva	i nihteva	it (f.) was written
אֲנָן אִי(תְ)כַּתְבִינָן	אָנוּ נִכְתַבְנוּ	anan itqatvinan	anu nihtavnu	we were written
אַתּוּ אִי(תְ)כַּתְבִיתּוּ	אַתֶּם נִכְתַבְתֶּם	atu itqatvitu	atem nihtavtem	you (m.pl.) were written
אינון אִי(תְ)כַּתְבוּ	הם נִכְתְּבוּ	innun itqatvu	em nihtevu	they (m.pl.) were written

future tense

Aramaic verb Will BE WRITTEN [15]	Hebrew verb parallel Will BE WRITTEN	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אֶ(תְ)כְּתֵיב	אֲנִי אֶכָּתֵיב	ana aeqqtev	ani aeqqatev	I will be written
אַתְּ תִ(תְ)כְּתֵיב	אַתָּה תִכָּתֵיב	at tiqqtev	ata tiqqatev	you (m.s.) will be written
אַתְּ תִ(תְ)כְּתֵיבִין	אַתְּ תִכָּתֵיבִי	at tiqqatevin	at tiqqatevi	you (f.s.) will be written
הוּא לִ(תְ)כְּתֵיב	הוּא יִכָּתֵיב	u liqqtev	u iqqatev	it (m.) will be written
הִיא תִ(תְ)כְּתֵיב	הִיא תִכָּתֵיב	i tiqqtev	i tiqqatev	it (f.) will be written
אֲנָן לִ(תְ)כְּתֵיב	אָנוּ נִכָּתֵיב	anan liqqtev	anu niqqatev	we will be written
אַתּוּ תִ(תְ)כַּתְבוּ	אַתֶּם תִכָּתְבוּ	atu tiqqat'vu	atem tiqqatvu	you (m.pl.) will be written
אינון לִ(תְ)קַכְּתֵיבוּן	הם יִכָּתבוּ	innun liqqtevun	em iqqatvu	they (s.pl.) will be written
אינין לִ(תְ)כַּתְבָן	הן תִכָּתֵבְנָה	innin liqqt'van	en tiqqatevna	they (m.pl.) will be written

|}

Verbal pattern (binyan): pa‘el (פַּעֵל) Frequentative - Active

The verbal pattern (binyan) pa‘el are frequentative verbs showing repeated or intense action.

The verbal pattern pa'el is Active Frequentative.

past tense

Aramaic verb SANCTIFIED [16]	Hebrew verb parallel SANCTIFIED	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא קַדֵּישִית	אֲנִי קִדַּשְתִּי	ana qadeshit	ani qiddashti	I sanctified
אַתְּ קַדֵּישְתְּ	אַתָּה קִדַּשְתָּ	at qadesht	ata qiddashta	You (m.s.) sanctified
אַתְּ קַדֵּישְתְּ	אַתְּ קִדַּשְתְּ	at qadesht	at qiddasht	You (f.s.) sanctified
הוּא קַדֵּיש	הוּא קִדֵּש	u qaddesh	u qiddesh	he sanctified
הִיא קַדִּישָה	הִיא קִדְּשָה	i qaddisha	i qiddsha	she sanctified
אֲנָן קַדֵּישְנָן	אָנוּ קִדַּשְנוּ	anan qaddeshnan	anu qiddashnu	we sanctified
אַתּוּ קַדֵּישְתּוּ	אַתֶּם קִדַּשְתֶּם	atu qaddeshtu	atem qiddashtem	You (m.pl.) sanctified
אינון קַדִּישוּ	הם קִדְּשוּ	innun qaddishu	em qiddshu	they (m.pl.) sanctified

future tense

Aramaic verb WILL SANCTIFY [17]	Hebrew verb parallel WILL SANCTIFY	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אֲקַדֵּיש	אֲנִי אֲקַדֵּש	ana aqadesh	ani aqadesh	I will sanctify
אַתְּ תְקַדֵּיש	אַתָּה תְקַדֵּש	at teqadesh	ata teqadesh	You (m.s.) will sanctify
אַתְּ תְקַדְּשִי	אַתְּ תְקַדְּשִי	at teqadeshi	at teqadeshi	You (f.s.) will sanctify
הוּא יְקַדֵּיש	הוּא יְקַדֵּש	u jeqadesh	u jeqadesh	he will sanctify
הִיא תְקַדֵּיש	הִיא תְקַדֵּש	i teqadesh	i teqadesh	she will sanctify
אֲנָן לְקַדֵּיש	אָנוּ נְקַדֵּש	anan leqadesh	anu neqadesh	we will sanctify
אַתּוּ תְקַדְּשוּ	אַתֶּם תְקַדְּשוּ	atu teqadshu	atem teqadshu	You (m.pl.) will sanctify
אינון לְקַדְּשוּ	הם יְקַדְּשוּ	innun leqadshu	em jeqadeshu	they (m.pl.) will sanctify
אינין לְקַדְּשָן	הן תְקַדֵּשְנָה	innin leqadshan	en teqadeshna	they (f.pl.) will sanctify

Verbal pattern (binyan): Itpa'al (אִתְפַּעַל) Frequentative - Passive

The verbal pattern itpa'al is Passive Frequentative.

Aramaic verb WAS/WERE SANCTIFIED [18]	Hebrew verb parallel WAS/WERE SANCTIFIED	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא יִ(תְ)קַדַּשִׁית	אֲנִי נִתְקַדַּשְׁתִּי	ana jiqqadashit	ani nitqadashti	I was sanctified
אַתְּ יִ(תְ)קַדַּשְׁתְּ	אַתָּה נִתְקַדַּשָׁה	at jiqqadasht	ata nitqqadasha	you (m.s.) were sanctified
אַתְּ יִ(תְ)קַדַּשְׁתְּ	אַתְּ נִתְקַדַּשְׁתְּ	at jiqqadasht	at nitqadasht	you (f.s.) were sanctified
הוּא יִ(תְ)קַדַּשׁ	הוּא נִתְקַדַּשׁ	u jiqqadash	u nitqadash	it (m.) was sanctified
הִיא יִ(תְ)קַדַּשָׁה	הִיא נִתְקַדַּשָׁה	i jiqqadasha	i nitqadasha	it (f.) was sanctified
אֲנָן יִ(תְ)קַדַּשִׁינָן	אָנוּ נִתְקַדַּשׁנוּ	anu jiqqadashinan	anu nitqadashnu	we were sanctified
אַתּוּ יִ(תְ)קַדַּשִׁיתּוּ	אַתֶּם נִתְקַדַּשְׁתֶּם	atu jiqqadashitu	innu nitqadashtem	they (f.) were sanctified
אִינון יִ(תְ)קַדַּשׁוּ	הם נִתְקַדַּשׁוּ	innun jiqqadashitu	em nitqadashu	they (m.) were sanctified

Aramaic verb WILL BE SANCTIFIED [19]	Hebrew verb parallel WILL BE SANCTIFIED	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אֶ(תְ)קַדֵּשׁ	אֲנִי אֶתְקַדַּשׁ	ana aeqqadash	ani aetqadesh	I will be sanctified
אַתְּ תִ(תְ)קַדַּשׁ	אַתָּה תִתְקַדֵּשׁ	at tiqqadash	ata titqadesh	you (m.s.) will be sanctified
אַתְּ תִ(תְ)קַדְּשִׁין	אַתְּ תִתְקַדְּשִׁי	at tiqqadshin	at titqadshi	you (f.s.) will be sanctified
הוּא לִ(תְ)קַדַּשׁ	הוּא יִתְקַדֵּשׁ	u liqqadash	u itqadesh	it (m.) will be sanctified
הִיא תִ(תְ)קַדַּשׁ	הִיא תִתְקַדֵּשׁ	i tiqqadash	i titqadesh	it (f.) will be sanctified
אֲנָן לִ(תְ)קַדַּשׁ	אָנוּ נִתְקַדֵּשׁ	anan liqqadash	anu nitqadesh	we will be sanctified
אַתּוּ תִ(תְ)קַדְּשׁוּ	אַתֶּם תִתְקַדְּשׁוּ	atu tiqqadshu	atem titqadshu	you (m.pl.) will be sanctified
אינון לִ(תְ)קַדְּשוּן	הם יִתְקַדְּשׁוּ	innun liqqadshun	em itqadshu	they (m.pl.) will be sanctified
אינין לִ(תְ)קַדְּשָׁן	הן תִתְקַדֵּשְׁנָה	innin liqqadshan	en titqadeshna	they (f.pl.) will be sanctified

Verbal pattern (binyan): aph‘el (אַפְעֵל) Causative - Active

The verbal pattern aphel is Active Causative.

past tense

Aramaic verb DEPOSITED [20]	Hebrew verb parallel DEPOSITED	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אַפְקֵידִית	אֲנִי הִפְקַדְתִּי	ana aphqedit	ani iphqadeti	I deposited
אַתְּ אַפְקֵידְתְּ	אַתָּה הִפְקַדְתָּ	at aphqedt	ata iphqadetta	you (m.s.) deposited
אַתְּ אַפְקֵידְתְּ	אַתְּ הִפְקַדְתְּ	at aphqedt	at iphqadett	you (f.s.) deposited
הוּא אַפְקֵיד	הוּא הִפְקִיד	u aphqed	u iphqid	he deposited
הִיא אַפְקִידָה	הִיא הִפְקִידָה	i aphqida	i iphqida	she deposited
אֲנָן אַפְקְדִינָן	אָנוּ הִפְקַדְנוּ	anan aphqedinan	anu iphqadnu	we deposited
אַתּוּ אַפְקְדִיתּוּ	אַתֶּם הִפְקַדְתֶּם	atu aphqeditu	atem iphqadtem	you (m.pl.) deposited
אינון אַפְקִידוּ	הם הִפְקִידוּ	innun aphqidu	em iphqidu	they (m.pl.) deposited

Aramaic verb BROUGHT [21]	Hebrew verb parallel BROUGHT	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אַיְיתֵית	אֲנִי הֵבֵאתִי	ana ajtet	ani heveti	I brought
אַתְּ אַיְיתֵיית	אַתָּה הֵבֵאתָ	at ajtet	ata heveta	you (m.s.) brought
הוּא אַיְיתִי	הוּא הֵבִיא	u ajti	u hevi	he brought
הִיא אַיְיתָא הִיא אַתָיְא הִיא אַתָאי	הִיא הֵבִיאָה	i ajta	i hevija	she brought
אֲנָן אַיְיתֵינָא	אָנוּ הֵבֵאנוּ	anan ajtena	anu hevenu	we brought
אינון אַיְיתוּ	הם הֵבִיאוּ	innun ajtu	em hevi'u	they (m.pl.) brought

Participle

Aramaic active participle BRING with suffix [22]	Hebrew active participle BRING	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
מַיְיתֵי / מַתְיָא + אֲנָא ← מַיְיתֵינָא	אֲנִי מֵבִיא	maitena ←maite+ana	ani mevi	I bring
מַיְיתֵי / מַתְיָא + אַתְּ ← מַיְיתֵיתְּ	אַתָּה מֵבִיא	maitet← maite+at	ata mevi	you bring
מַיְיתוּ / מַיְתָן + אֲנָן ← מַיְיתִינָן	אָנוּ מֵבִיאִים	maitinan←atu+maitu	anu mev'iim	we bring

Future tense

Aramaic verb WILL DEPOSITE [23]	Hebrew verb parallel WILL DEPOSITE	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אַפְקֵד	אֲנִי אַפְקִיד	ana aphqed	ani aphqid	I will deposite
אַתְּ תַפְקֵד	אַתָּה תַפְקִיד	at taphqed	ata taphqid	you (m.) will deposite
אַתְּ תַפְקְדִי	אַתְּ תַפְקִידִי	at taphqedi	at taphqidi	you (f.) will deposite
הוּא לַפְקֵד	הוּא יַפְקִיד	u laphqed	u japhqid	he will deposite
הִיא תַפְקֵד	הִיא תַפְקִיד	i taphqed	i taphqid	she will deposite
אֲנָן לַפְקֵד	אָנוּ נַפְקִיד	anan laphqed	anu naphqid	we will deposite
אַתּוּ תַפְקְדוּ	אַתֶּם תַפְקִידוּ	atu taphqedu	atem taphqidu	you (m.pl.) will deposite
אינון לַפְקְדוּ	הם יַפְקִידוּ	innun laphqedu	em japhqidu	they (m.) will deposite

Aramaic verb WILL BRING [24]	Hebrew verb parallel WILL BRING	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
אֲנָא אַיְיתֵי	אֲנִי אָבִיא	ana ajite	ani avi	I will bring
אַתְּ תַיְיתֵי	אַתָּה תָּבִיא	at tajite	ata tavi	you (m.) will bring
אַתְּ ?	אַתְּ תָּבִיאי	at ?	at taviji	you (f.) will bring
הוּא לַיְיתֵי	הוּא יָבִיא	u lajite	u javi	he will bring
הִיא תַיְיתֵי	הִיא תָּבִיא	i tajite	i tavi	she will bring
אֲנָן לַיְיתֵי	אָנוּ נָבִיא	anan lajite	anu navi	we will bring
אַתּוּ תַיְתוּ	אַתֶּם תָּבִיאוּ	atu tajitu	atem taviju	you (m.pl.) will bring
אינון לַיְתוּ	הם יָבִיאוּ	innun lajitu	em javiju	they (m.) will bring

Verbal pattern (binyan): itaphal (אִתַפְעַל) Causative - Passive voice

The verbal pattern itaphal is Passive Causative.

Aramaic verb was refuted/were refuted [25]	Hebrew verb parallel was refuted/were refuted	Romanization of Aramaic	Romanization of Hebrew	English translation
הוּא אִיתּוֹתַב	הוּא הוּשַׁב	u ittotav	u ushav	it (m.s.) was refuted
אינון אִיתּוֹתְבוּ	הם הוּשְׁבוּ	innun ittotvu	em ushvu	they (m.pl.) were refuted

Noun: singular/plural

noun: singular^[26]

Jewish Babylonian Aramaic example	Hebrew parallel	English translation of the Jewish Babylonian Aramaic example
מַלְכָּא (malk-a) [27]	המֶלֶךְ (ha-melekh)[28]	the king[29]
עָלְמָא (alm-a)[30]	העוֹלָם (ha-olam)[31]	the world[32]
מְדִינְתָא (medin-ta)[33]	המְדִינָה (ha-medina)[34]	the state[35]
מְנָא הָא מִילְּתָא דְּאָמְרִי אֱנָשֵׁי (mil-ta)[36]	מִנַּיִין מִלָּה זֹאת שֶׁאוֹמְרִים אֲנָשִׁים (ha-mila)	the word/thing[37]

noun: plural^[38]

Jewish Babylonian Aramaic example	Hebrew parallel	English translation of the Jewish Babylonian Aramaic example
מַלְכֵי (malkheji)/ מַלְכַיָּא (malkh-ajia)[39][40]	המְלָכִים (ha-melakhim)[41]	the kings[42]
עָלְמֵי (almeji)/ עָלְמַיָּא (alm-ajia)[43]	העוֹלָמים (ha-olamim) [44]	the worlds[45]
מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי (mil-eji)[46]	מִנַּיִין המִילִּים האֵלֶּה (ha-milim)	the words/things

List of verbs

Aramaic verb	Hebrew verb parallel	English translation
בע' [47]	רָצָה	ask, request, want and require
חז' [48]	רָאָה	see
עבד [49]	עָשָׂה	do/make
פלג [50]	חלק	divide
צרך [51]	צריך	necessity
את'[52]	בָּא	come
תנ' [53]	שנה	teach, learn, state, recite and repeat
תוב [54]	שוב	return
נפק [55]	יָצָא	go out
נחת [56]	יָרַד	go down
סלק [57]	עָלָה	go up
ילף [58]	למד	learn, teach
יתב [59]	יָשַׁב	to sit
זבן[60]	מָכַר	to come
הדר [61]	חָזַר	to return
סלק [62]	הוֹרִיד, הֵסִיר	to remove
גלי [63]	גֵּרֵשׁ	to reveale
אסי [64]	רִפֵּא	to heal, cure
הוי [65]	דָּן	he discussed/raised an objection
קום / קָאֵם [66]	הִתְקַיֵּם/עומד	to stand
עלל [67]	יָשַׁב	to sit

Idiom

Idiom

Jewish Babylonian Aramaic example	Hebrew parallel	English translation of the Jewish Babylonian Aramaic example
קָאֵים (qa'em)[68]	-	"rising, standing, referring to"[69]
קָאֵים - קָא (qa) [70]	-	- [71]
מַאי קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן (mai qa mashma lan) [72]	מָה מַשְׁמִיעַ לָנּוּ (ma mashma lanu)	"What new point is he teaching us "[73]
מַאי קָאָמַר (mai qa'amar )[74]	מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר (ma hu omer)	"What does he mean "[75]
תָּנוּ רַבָּנָן (tanu rabanan)[76]	שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים (shanu khakhamim)	"the rabbis taught"[77]
מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי (mena hane mileji)[78]	מִנַּיִין המִילִּים האֵלֶּה (minajin ha-milim ha-ele)	"What is the source"[79]

Today

The language has received considerable scholarly attention, as shown in the Bibliography below. However, the majority of those who are familiar with it, namely Orthodox Jewish students of Talmud, are given no systematic instruction in the language, and are expected to "sink or swim" in the course of Talmudic studies, with the help of some informal pointers showing similarities and differences with Hebrew.^[80]

See also

• Jewish Palestinian Aramaic

References

1. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin; Bank, Sebastian, eds. (2016). "Jewish Babylonian Aramaic (ca. 200–1200 CE)". Glottolog 2.7. Jena: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
2. Sokoloff 2003
3. Morag 1988
4. Morgenstern 2011
5. Elitzur Bar-Asher Siegal, Introduction to the Grammar of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic (2013)
6. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 18:A survey of the aramaic binyanim.
7. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic: , Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 23:Talmud Bavli Aramaic.
8. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 22:Past tense: binyan.
9. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 123:Past tense: came.
10. Frank (2011), p. 32.
11. Frank (2011), p. 33.
12. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 124:active participle with suffix
13. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 36:Future tense: binyan.
14. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 25:Past tense: binyan.
15. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 39:Future tense: binyan.
16. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 23:Past tense: binyan.
17. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 37:Future tense: binyan.
18. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 26:Past tense: binyan.
19. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 40:Future tense: banyan.
20. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 24:Past tense: binyan.
21. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p.123 f.
22. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 124:active participle with suffix
23. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 38:Future tense: binyan.
24. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 125:Future tense: will bring.
25. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1, p. 94:Past tense:was refuted/were refuted.
26. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231-232.
27. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
28. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
29. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
30. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
31. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
32. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
33. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
34. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 232.
35. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 232.
36. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 178:From where is the maxim that people say?
37. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
38. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231-232.
39. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 233: ...in the plural of masculine nouns ... construct forms such as מַלְכֵי are often used not only in the construct state but even in the absolute and emphatic states. Thus, in Babylonian Aramaic, the form מַלְכֵי may mean either the kings of or kings or the kings.
40. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
41. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
42. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 233.
43. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
44. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
45. Yitzhak Frank: Grammar for Gemara and targum onkelos: An Introduction to Aramaic, Ariel Institute, Jerusalem 2011 ISBN 978-1-59826-466-1,p. 231.
46. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 178:From where do we derive these things?
47. Frank (2011), p. 49, 105f.
48. Frank (2011), p. 49, 108f.
49. Frank (2011), p. 49, 59f.
50. Frank (2011), p. 49, 50f.
51. Frank (2011), p. 49, 56f.
52. Frank (2011), p. 49, 123f.
53. Frank (2011), p. 49, 116f.
54. Frank (2011), p. 49, 93.
55. Frank (2011), p. 49, 68f.
56. Frank (2011), p. 49, 70f.
57. Frank (2011), p. 49, 74.
58. Frank (2011), p. 49, 82f.
59. Frank (2011), p. 49, 88f.
60. Frank (2011), p. 49, (Nr. 2 - Index).
61. Frank (2011), p. 49, 64.
62. Frank (2011), p. 49, 74f.
63. Frank (2011), p. 49, 111.
64. Frank (2011), p. 49, 114f.
65. Frank (2011), p. 49, 126f.
66. Frank (2011), p. 49, 132f.
67. Frank (2011), p. 49, (Nr. 26 - Index).
68. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 230.
69. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 230: "This participle is often used with a word that has a prepositional prefix - אֵי, to mean basing oneself upon or referring to."
70. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 229.
71. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 229: " A contraction of the participle קָאֵים (from the root קום ) is often placed before another participle...it has an emphatic effect that is difficult to translate into english ."
72. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 153.
73. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 153: "What new point is he teaching us? This question points out a difficulty: Since the amora's halakha was already known to us from a mishna, a baraita, or the amora's own statement on another occasion - why did the amora present it again?"
74. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 152.
75. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 152: "What does he mean? This question seeks a clarification of the meaning of a mishna, a baraitha, an amoraic statement, or a pasuk."
76. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 260.
77. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 260: "the hakhamim taught. This expression usually introduces a baraitha that begins with an anonymous statement."
78. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, p. 178.
79. Yitzhak Frank:The Practical Talmud Dictionary, Jerusalem 2001, s. p.178: "From where do we derive these things? What is the source? This question seeks a source for a statement in a mishna, in a baraitha, or by an amora."
80. Jay Bushinsky, "The passion of Aramaic-Kurdish Jews brought Aramaic to Israel"

Bibliography

• Bar-Asher Siegal, Elitzur A., Introduction to the Grammar of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic, Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, 2013 ISBN 978-3-86835-084-5
• J. N. Epstein, Diqduq Aramit Bavlit ("Grammar of Babylonian Aramaic"), 1960 (Hebrew)
• Frank, Yitzhak, Grammar for Gemara: An Introduction to Babylonian Aramaic: Jerusalem, Ariel Institute, 2000 ISBN 0-87306-612-X
• Jastrow, Marcus, A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (reprinted many times) ISBN 1-56563-860-3
• Kara, Yehiel, Babylonian Aramaic in the Yemenite Manuscripts of the Talmud: Orthography, Phonology and Morphology of the Verb: Jerusalem 1983
• Klein, Hyman, An Introduction to the Aramaic of the Babylonian Talmud: London 1943
• Kutscher, Eduard Yechezkel, Hebrew and Aramaic Studies, ed. Z. Ben-Hayyim, A. Dotan, and G. Sarfatti: Jerusalem, The Magnes Press / The Hebrew University, 1977
• Levias, Caspar, A grammar of the Aramaic idiom contained in the Babylonian Talmud: 1900 (reprints available)
• Marcus, David, A Manual of Babylonian Jewish Aramaic: University Press of America, Paperback ISBN 0-8191-1363-8
• Margolis, Max Leopold, A manual of the Aramaic language of the Babylonian Talmud; grammar chrestomathy & glossaries: Munich 1910 (reprints available)
• Melamed, Ezra Zion, Dictionary of the Babylonian Talmud, Feldheim 2005 ISBN 1-58330-776-1
• Morag, Shelomo (1988). Babylonian Aramaic: The Yemenite Tradition – Historical Aspects and Transmission Phonology: the Verbal System . Jerusalem: Ben Zvi Institute. ISBN 0-8018-7233-2. (in Hebrew)
• Morgenstern, Matthew (2011). Studies in Jewish Babylonian Aramaic Based Upon Early Eastern Manuscripts. Harvard Semitic Studies. ISBN 1-57506-938-5.
• Sokoloff, Michael (2003). A Dictionary of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic of the Talmudic and Geonic Periods. Bar Ilan and Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-7233-2.

External links

• Links to selected pages of Talmud showing Yemenite vocalization
• Grammatical synopsis