Learn Assyrian › Grammar

8.5 Predicative particles — "enough," "what a pity"

8 · Particles — the little connecting words · a plain-language guide to Assyrian (Sureth) grammar

A small set of particles behave a bit like tiny verbs: they take a pronoun ending to show who's affected. Three worth knowing:

• bassa "enough / that's enough." On its own: bassa! "That's enough!" In a sentence: tre-dane biyye bassa "two eggs are enough." With an ending it says enough for whom: bassi! "That's enough for me!", bassukh=ila "that's enough for you." (Borrowed from Kurdish/Persian bas.)
• hayp- "what a pity!" The thing regretted gets a pronoun ending: haypu! "What a pity — we've lost him!" Said, for instance, when someone dies.
• khas "far be it (from me)" — used in oaths of denial: khas menni… "far be it from me to…". More of a set expression than a productive word; recognize it, don't sweat it.

---