← Babylonian (Talmudic) Aramaic
These lessons are for the language of the Babylonian Talmud, Targum Onkelos, Midrash and Aggadah and Gaonic Literature
10.1 הַהוּא that גַבְרָא man דְּ that אֲתָא came מִבָּבֶל from Babylon חַכִּים wise הֲוָה was
10.2 יָדַע knew אֲנָא I דְּ that אַנְתְּ you צַדִּיקָא righteous אַתְּ are
10.3 סִפְרָא book הָדֵין this דְּ that קְנֵיתִי I bought יַקִּיר precious הֲוָה was
10.4 אֲמַר said רַב Rav דְּ that תּוֹרָה Torah מִן from שְׁמַיָּא heaven הֲוָת was
10.5 מְדִינְתָּא city הַהִיא that דְּ that חָרְבָא was destroyed בָּבֶל Babylon הֲוָת was
10.6 תַּלְמִידָא student דְּ that יָתֵיב sat קַמֵּיהּ before him שָׁאֵל asked שְׁאֵלְתָּא question
10.7 כֹּל all מַה what דְּ that עָבֵד does רַחֲמָנָא the Merciful One לְטָב for good עָבֵד does
10.8 שְׁמַעְנָא I heard דְּ that אָתֵי coming מְשִׁיחָא Messiah בִּמְהֵרָה speedily בְּיָמֵינוּ in our days
10.9 כָּתְבִין write בִּשְׁטָרָא in document דְּ that זְבַן bought פְּלַנְיָא so-and-so אַרְעָא land
10.10 חֲזֵי see אֲנָא I דְּ that נְהוֹרָא light נָפֵק comes forth מִן from מַדְנְחָא east
10.11 מַאן who דְּ that לָא not יָדַע knows סִפְרָא book לָא not יָדַע knows חָכְמְתָא wisdom
10.12 בְּיוֹמָא on day הַהוּא that דְּ that אֲתָא came מַלְכָּא king לְבָבֶל to Babylon
10.13 אִילָנָא tree דְּ that נָפְלָא fell בְּגִנְתָּא in garden רַבָּא great הֲוָה was
10.14 בָּעֵינָא I request מִנָּךְ from you דְּ that תֵּימָא you say לִי to me קוּשְׁטָא truth
10.15 דְּהָב gold דְּ that אַיְתִי brought תַּגָּרָא merchant טָב good הֲוָה was
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10.1 הַהוּא גַבְרָא דְּאֲתָא מִבָּבֶל חַכִּים הֲוָה That man that came from Babylon was wise
10.2 יָדַע אֲנָא דְּאַנְתְּ צַדִּיקָא אַתְּ I know that you are righteous
10.3 סִפְרָא הָדֵין דְּקְנֵיתִי יַקִּיר הֲוָה This book that I bought was precious
10.4 אֲמַר רַב דְּתּוֹרָה מִן שְׁמַיָּא הֲוָת Rav said that Torah was from heaven
10.5 מְדִינְתָּא הַהִיא דְּחָרְבָא בָּבֶל הֲוָת That city that was destroyed was Babylon
10.6 תַּלְמִידָא דְּיָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ שָׁאֵל שְׁאֵלְתָּא The student that sat before him asked a question
10.7 כֹּל מַה דְּעָבֵד רַחֲמָנָא לְטָב עָבֵד All that the Merciful One does, He does for good
10.8 שְׁמַעְנָא דְּאָתֵי מְשִׁיחָא בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ I heard that the Messiah is coming speedily in our days
10.9 כָּתְבִין בִּשְׁטָרָא דְּזְבַן פְּלַנְיָא אַרְעָא They write in the document that so-and-so bought land
10.10 חֲזֵי אֲנָא דְּנְהוֹרָא נָפֵק מִן מַדְנְחָא I see that light comes forth from the east
10.11 מַאן דְּלָא יָדַע סִפְרָא לָא יָדַע חָכְמְתָא One that does not know book does not know wisdom
10.12 בְּיוֹמָא הַהוּא דְּאֲתָא מַלְכָּא לְבָבֶל On that day that the king came to Babylon
10.13 אִילָנָא דְּנָפְלָא בְּגִנְתָּא רַבָּא הֲוָה The tree that fell in the garden was great
10.14 בָּעֵינָא מִנָּךְ דְּתֵּימָא לִי קוּשְׁטָא I request from you that you tell me the truth
10.15 דְּהָב דְּאַיְתִי תַּגָּרָא טָב הֲוָה The gold that the merchant brought was good
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10.1 הַהוּא גַבְרָא דְּאֲתָא מִבָּבֶל חַכִּים הֲוָה
10.2 יָדַע אֲנָא דְּאַנְתְּ צַדִּיקָא אַתְּ
10.3 סִפְרָא הָדֵין דְּקְנֵיתִי יַקִּיר הֲוָה
10.4 אֲמַר רַב דְּתּוֹרָה מִן שְׁמַיָּא הֲוָת
10.5 מְדִינְתָּא הַהִיא דְּחָרְבָא בָּבֶל הֲוָת
10.6 תַּלְמִידָא דְּיָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ שָׁאֵל שְׁאֵלְתָּא
10.7 כֹּל מַה דְּעָבֵד רַחֲמָנָא לְטָב עָבֵד
10.8 שְׁמַעְנָא דְּאָתֵי מְשִׁיחָא בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ
10.9 כָּתְבִין בִּשְׁטָרָא דְּזְבַן פְּלַנְיָא אַרְעָא
10.10 חֲזֵי אֲנָא דְּנְהוֹרָא נָפֵק מִן מַדְנְחָא
10.11 מַאן דְּלָא יָדַע סִפְרָא לָא יָדַע חָכְמְתָא
10.12 בְּיוֹמָא הַהוּא דְּאֲתָא מַלְכָּא לְבָבֶל
10.13 אִילָנָא דְּנָפְלָא בְּגִנְתָּא רַבָּא הֲוָה
10.14 בָּעֵינָא מִנָּךְ דְּתֵּימָא לִי קוּשְׁטָא
10.15 דְּהָב דְּאַיְתִי תַּגָּרָא טָב הֲוָה
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The Aramaic דְּ/דִּי is a versatile word that corresponds to English "that" but has some important differences English speakers should understand: -
Basic Forms: -
דְּ (de-) - the more common form in Babylonian Aramaic -
דִּי (di-) - an older form, still found in some texts -
Both forms are functionally identical -
Main Uses: -
As a relative pronoun ("who, which, that") -
הַהוּא גַבְרָא דְּאֲתָא "that man who came" -
As a conjunction introducing clauses -
יָדַע אֲנָא דְּ "I know that..." -
As a possessive marker -
סִפְרָא דְּרַב "the book of/that belongs to Rav" -
Key Differences from English: -
Cannot be omitted (unlike English where "that" is often optional) -
Always appears in the same form regardless of gender/number -
Often combines with other particles to form compound expressions -
Word Order: -
Usually follows the word it modifies -
In possessive constructions, comes between possessor and possessed -
In relative clauses, immediately follows the antecedent -
Special Constructions: -
מַה דְּ "that which, whatever" -
כָּל דְּ "all that, whoever" -
עַל דְּ "because that, because"
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Understanding דְּ/דִּי requires awareness of its cultural significance in Babylonian Jewish society: -
In Religious Texts: -
Essential in Talmudic argumentation formulas -
Used to cite authorities: אֲמַר רַב דְּ "Rav said that..." -
Critical in legal discussions and rulings -
Common in prayer formulations -
In Legal Documents: -
Standard in contract formulas -
Used in marriage documents (ketubah) -
Essential in property transactions -
Found in court testimonies -
In Daily Life: -
Common in letters and correspondence -
Used in marketplace transactions -
Present in household agreements -
Found in personal narratives -
Historical Development: -
Originally from Ancient Aramaic -
Evolved through different periods -
Influenced Hebrew usage -
Still used in modern Jewish legal documents -
Cultural Significance: -
Links different types of discourse -
Marks formal vs informal language -
Indicates educational level -
Shows regional variations
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From Talmud Bavli, Berakhot 58a:
תָּנוּ they taught רַבָּנַן our rabbis דְּ that הָרוֹאֶה one who sees חַכְמֵי sages of יִשְׂרָאֵל Israel אוֹמֵר says בָּרוּךְ blessed שֶׁחָלַק who apportioned מֵחָכְמָתוֹ from His wisdom
"Our rabbis taught that one who sees the sages of Israel says 'Blessed [is He] who apportioned from His wisdom'"
This citation demonstrates several key uses of דְּ: -
Introduces a teaching (common Talmudic usage) -
Links the introduction to the main content -
Part of formal religious language -
Shows the connection between oral teaching and practice
-
דְּ here functions as a conjunction -
Introduces reported speech/teaching -
Part of the formal teaching formula תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן דְּ -
Shows how religious law is transmitted
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10.16 שְׁטָרָא document דְּנָה this דְּ that כְּתַבְנָא we wrote כְּהִלְכְתָא according to law שָׁרִיר valid וְקַיָּם and established הֲוָה is
10.17 מוֹדֵינָא I acknowledge קֳדָמֵיכוֹן before you דְּ that פְּרַעִית I paid חוֹבָא debt לְפְלַנְיָא to so-and-so
10.18 סָהֲדִין witnesses אֲנַחְנָא we are דְּ that זַבִּין sold יַעֲקֹב Jacob בֵּיתֵיהּ his house לִרְאוּבֵן to Reuben
10.19 כָּתְבִין write בִּגִטָּא in divorce document דְּ that פָּטֵר releases לָהּ her לְמֵיהַךְ to go לְכָל to any גְּבַר man
10.20 וּמוֹדַעְנָא and I declare דְּ that לָא not בַּאֲנִיסוּ under duress עֲבָדִית I did דָּא this
10.21 וְדִין and this נְדוּנְיָא dowry דְּ that הַנְעֶלֶת brought לֵיהּ to him בַּת daughter of פְּלוֹנִי so-and-so
10.22 וּמְקַיְּימִין and we confirm דְּ that כֹּלָּא all שְׁרִיר firm וּבָרִיר and clear וְקַיָּם and established
10.23 וַהֲוָה and it was בְּיוֹמָא on day דְּ that אַתְיָין came דַּיָּנַיָּא the judges לְדִינָא to judgment
10.24 וְאִתְרַעִי and agreed דְּ that יְהֵא will be שֻׁתָּפוּתָא partnership בֵּינֵיהוֹן between them
10.25 וְכָתַבְנָא and we wrote בִּשְׁטָרָא in document דְּ that קַבֵּיל received עֲלוֹהִי upon himself אַחֲרָיוּת responsibility
10.26 וּמַשְׁכֵּן and pledged כֹּל all נִכְסִין properties דְּ that אִית there are לֵיהּ to him
10.27 וְאַסְהִידוּ and testified סָהֲדַיָּא the witnesses דְּ that שְׁמַעוּ they heard הוֹדָאָה confession מִפּוּמֵיהּ from his mouth
10.28 וּבְתַר and after דְּ that בָּדְקוּ examined דַּיָּנַיָּא the judges סָהֲדַיָּא the witnesses
10.29 וְאִשְׁתְּכַח and it was found דְּ that קוּשְׁטָא truth אַסְהִידוּ they testified
10.30 וּפְסַקוּ and decided דַּיָּנַיָּא the judges דְּ that זַכַּאי innocent הוּא he בְּדִינָא in judgment
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10.16 שְׁטָרָא דְּנָה דְּכְּתַבְנָא כְּהִלְכְתָא שָׁרִיר וְקַיָּם הֲוָה This document that we wrote according to law is valid and established
10.17 מוֹדֵינָא קֳדָמֵיכוֹן דְּפְרַעִית חוֹבָא לְפְלַנְיָא I acknowledge before you that I paid the debt to so-and-so
10.18 סָהֲדִין אֲנַחְנָא דְּזַבִּין יַעֲקֹב בֵּיתֵיהּ לִרְאוּבֵן We are witnesses that Jacob sold his house to Reuben
10.19 כָּתְבִין בִּגִטָּא דְּפָּטֵר לָהּ לְמֵיהַךְ לְכָל גְּבַר They write in the divorce document that he releases her to go to any man
10.20 וּמוֹדַעְנָא דְּלָא בַּאֲנִיסוּ עֲבָדִית דָּא And I declare that I did not do this under duress
10.21 וְדִין נְדוּנְיָא דְּהַנְעֶלֶת לֵיהּ בַּת פְּלוֹנִי And this is the dowry that the daughter of so-and-so brought to him
10.22 וּמְקַיְּימִין דְּכֹּלָּא שְׁרִיר וּבָרִיר וְקַיָּם And we confirm that all is firm and clear and established
10.23 וַהֲוָה בְּיוֹמָא דְּאַתְיָין דַּיָּנַיָּא לְדִינָא And it was on the day that the judges came to judgment
10.24 וְאִתְרַעִי דְּיְהֵא שֻׁתָּפוּתָא בֵּינֵיהוֹן And he agreed that there will be a partnership between them
10.25 וְכָתַבְנָא בִּשְׁטָרָא דְּקַבֵּיל עֲלוֹהִי אַחֲרָיוּת And we wrote in the document that he accepted responsibility upon himself
10.26 וּמַשְׁכֵּן כֹּל נִכְסִין דְּאִית לֵיהּ And he pledged all properties that he has
10.27 וְאַסְהִידוּ סָהֲדַיָּא דְּשְׁמַעוּ הוֹדָאָה מִפּוּמֵיהּ And the witnesses testified that they heard the confession from his mouth
10.28 וּבְתַר דְּבָדְקוּ דַּיָּנַיָּא סָהֲדַיָּא And after that the judges examined the witnesses
10.29 וְאִשְׁתְּכַח דְּקוּשְׁטָא אַסְהִידוּ And it was found that they testified truth
10.30 וּפְסַקוּ דַּיָּנַיָּא דְּזַכַּאי הוּא בְּדִינָא And the judges decided that he is innocent in judgment
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10.16 שְׁטָרָא דְּנָה דְּכְּתַבְנָא כְּהִלְכְתָא שָׁרִיר וְקַיָּם הֲוָה
10.17 מוֹדֵינָא קֳדָמֵיכוֹן דְּפְרַעִית חוֹבָא לְפְלַנְיָא
10.18 סָהֲדִין אֲנַחְנָא דְּזַבִּין יַעֲקֹב בֵּיתֵיהּ לִרְאוּבֵן
10.19 כָּתְבִין בִּגִטָּא דְּפָּטֵר לָהּ לְמֵיהַךְ לְכָל גְּבַר
10.20 וּמוֹדַעְנָא דְּלָא בַּאֲנִיסוּ עֲבָדִית דָּא
10.21 וְדִין נְדוּנְיָא דְּהַנְעֶלֶת לֵיהּ בַּת פְּלוֹנִי
10.22 וּמְקַיְּימִין דְּכֹּלָּא שְׁרִיר וּבָרִיר וְקַיָּם
10.23 וַהֲוָה בְּיוֹמָא דְּאַתְיָין דַּיָּנַיָּא לְדִינָא
10.24 וְאִתְרַעִי דְּיְהֵא שֻׁתָּפוּתָא בֵּינֵיהוֹן
10.25 וְכָתַבְנָא בִּשְׁטָרָא דְּקַבֵּיל עֲלוֹהִי אַחֲרָיוּת
10.26 וּמַשְׁכֵּן כֹּל נִכְסִין דְּאִית לֵיהּ
10.27 וְאַסְהִידוּ סָהֲדַיָּא דְּשְׁמַעוּ הוֹדָאָה מִפּוּמֵיהּ
10.28 וּבְתַר דְּבָדְקוּ דַּיָּנַיָּא סָהֲדַיָּא
10.29 וְאִשְׁתְּכַח דְּקוּשְׁטָא אַסְהִידוּ
10.30 וּפְסַקוּ דַּיָּנַיָּא דְּזַכַּאי הוּא בְּדִינָא
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Standard Legal Formulas Using דְּ: -
Opening declarations: -
מוֹדֵינָא...דְּ "I declare that..." -
סָהֲדִין אֲנַחְנָא דְּ "We witness that..." -
Validity statements: -
שָׁרִיר וְקַיָּם דְּ "It is valid and established that..." -
Closing formulas: -
וּמְקַיְּימִין דְּכֹּלָּא "And we confirm that all..." -
Special Legal Uses: -
Introducing testimony: -
אַסְהִידוּ סָהֲדַיָּא דְּ "The witnesses testified that..." -
Marking court decisions: -
וּפְסַקוּ דַּיָּנַיָּא דְּ "And the judges ruled that..." -
Property descriptions: -
נִכְסִין דְּאִית לֵיהּ "Properties that he has..." -
Document Structure Features: -
Sequential markers: -
וּבְתַר דְּ "And after that..." -
כֵּיוָן דְּ "Once that..." -
Conditional clauses: -
אִי דְּ "If that..." -
בִּלְחוֹד דְּ "Provided that..." -
Specific Legal Terminology: -
Property transfers: -
זַבִּין דְּ "Sold that..." -
יָהֵיב דְּ "Gave that..." -
Contracts and agreements: -
אִתְרַעִי דְּ "Agreed that..." -
קַבֵּיל דְּ "Accepted that..." -
Witness Formula Patterns: -
Direct testimony: -
חֲזֵינָא דְּ "We saw that..." -
שְׁמַעְנָא דְּ "We heard that..." -
Written testimony: -
כְּתִיב דְּ "It is written that..." -
רָשִׁים דְּ "It is recorded that..." -
Temporal Expressions: -
Date formulas: -
בְּיוֹמָא דְּ "On the day that..." -
בְּעִדָּנָא דְּ "At the time that..." -
Sequential events: -
מִן דְּ "From when..." -
עַד דְּ "Until..." -
Monetary and Property Terms: -
Value statements: -
שָׁוֵי דְּ "Worth that..." -
דָמֵי דְּ "Value that..." -
Obligation markers: -
חַיָּיב דְּ "Obligated that..." -
מְשַׁעְבֵּד דְּ "Pledged that..." -
Common Legal Actions: -
Declarations: -
אוֹדֵי דְּ "Admitted that..." -
טָעֵין דְּ "Claimed that..." -
Transactions: -
מְזַבֵּן דְּ "Selling that..." -
קָנֵי דְּ "Acquiring that..." -
Verbal Forms in Legal Context: -
Present actions: -
מַצְהַר דְּ "Declares that..." -
מְקַיֵּים דְּ "Confirms that..." -
Past actions: -
הֲוָה דְּ "It was that..." -
עֲבַד דְּ "Did that..." -
Document Validation Terms: -
Authentication: -
מְאַשְׁרִין דְּ "We certify that..." -
מְקַיְּימִין דְּ "We establish that..." -
Verification: -
בָּדְקִין דְּ "We verify that..." -
מְבָרְרִין דְּ "We clarify that..."
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