Arabic: yanni ???

[Herb Martin]

[I am just learning Arabic.]

On TV (likely fusHa/MSA but could be dialects too) this
word pops up fairly frequently.

It could mean "well" or be a (likely third person) verb, but
I cannot seem to find it in my dictionaries.

I might have the spelling off of course, but it sounds like a
doubled-n and it doesn't sound like there is a 'ain or hamza
in the first syllable (actually that is the key there as it sounds
like a simple two syllable word.)

I also believe that I have heard it as a name, "johny" but it
does seem to be used to lead some sentences as intregral
item.

[Yusuf B Gursey]

In sci.lang Herb Martin <***@learnquick.com> wrote in <DLFuc.20489$***@fe2.texas.rr.com>:
: [I am just learning Arabic.]

: On TV (likely fusHa/MSA but could be dialects too) this
: word pops up fairly frequently.

: It could mean "well" or be a (likely third person) verb, but
: I cannot seem to find it in my dictionaries.

: I might have the spelling off of course, but it sounds like a
: doubled-n and it doesn't sound like there is a 'ain or hamza
: in the first syllable (actually that is the key there as it sounds
: like a simple two syllable word.)

you mean ya3ni: "it (m.s.) means". in formal usgae, it introduces a
defintion etc. but in more causal speech (this is not a matter of standrad
vs. collquial) it is what arabs use when musing over a word or emphasizing
a change of topic etc. "well, ehem". arabs may be heard using it even
when speaking another language such as english.

(turkish incidentally also uses it in the same way. pronouncing it [ya'ni
or [ya:ni] .


: I also believe that I have heard it as a name, "johny" but it
: does seem to be used to lead some sentences as intregral
: item.


Iani (Yani) is a greek form of "John" (AFAIK short for IoannHs).

turks familiar with both joke when someone excessively uses [ya`ni]

since Maria has come to the neighborhood no one hears form Yani anymore.

([ya:ni] with stress on the first syllable, at least in turkish) anymore"
(Maria mahalleye geleli beri Yani'den artIk haber yok (litt. "no news
from Yani")) i.e. Yani is busy with Maria, no point in calling him!

[Herb Martin]

Post by Yusuf B Gursey
: It could mean "well" or be a (likely third person) verb, but
: I cannot seem to find it in my dictionaries.
you mean ya3ni: "it (m.s.) means". in formal usage, it introduces a
definition etc. but in more causal speech (this is not a matter of

standard

Post by Yusuf B Gursey
vs. colloquial) it is what Arabs use when musing over a word or

emphasizing

Post by Yusuf B Gursey
a change of topic etc. "well, ehem". Arabs may be heard using it even
when speaking another language such as English.

So it is used for "well" sometimes and it is also a verb.
This is probably what I needed.

Thank you.

I am still trying to find the root:

Found this:

#1 ??????
take-up , attend to , devote one's attention to , be concerned(about) , care
for or about , concern oneself with , take care of , heed , nurse , look to
, tend , care , reck , see to , pay attention to , pay attention , look
after , watch over

#2 ?????
that is
design to , be aimed at , be willing(to) , designate , intend , purpose ,
mean
signify

#2 seems to be the verb meaning "means" or "signifies" or "that is (to say)"

--
Thanks again.
Herb

[Yusuf B Gursey]

In sci.lang Herb Martin <***@learnquick.com> wrote in <naXuc.25051$***@fe2.texas.rr.com>:

: So it is used for "well" sometimes and it is also a verb.
: This is probably what I needed.

: Thank you.

: I am still trying to find the root:

the "root" is 3ny

the verb is 3ana" (a" alif maqSura) imp. ind. ya3ni: verb. noun 3any


"to have in mind (s. thing) "mean"

ya3ni: , 'a3ni: (1st pers.) that is , i.e.

ma3na"(n) "sense, meaning"

Wehr, 4th ed. p. 762

: #2 seems to be the verb meaning "means" or "signifies" or "that is (to say)"


it is a finite verb, sometimes used interjectionally.

[Yusuf B Gursey]

In sci.lang Herb Martin <***@learnquick.com> wrote in <DLFuc.20489$***@fe2.texas.rr.com>:
: [I am just learning Arabic.]

: On TV (likely fusHa/MSA but could be dialects too) this
: word pops up fairly frequently.

: It could mean "well" or be a (likely third person) verb, but
: I cannot seem to find it in my dictionaries.

: I might have the spelling off of course, but it sounds like a
: doubled-n and it doesn't sound like there is a 'ain or hamza
: in the first syllable (actually that is the key there as it sounds
: like a simple two syllable word.)

you mean ya3ni: "it (m.s.) means". in formal usgae, it introduces a
defintion etc. but in more causal speech (this is not a matter of standrad
vs. colloquial) it is what arabs use when musing over a word or just for
emphasis. etc. "well, ehem", "that is to say". arabs may be heard using
it even when speaking another language such as english.

found under 3ny

(turkish incidentally also uses it in the same way. pronouncing it [ya'ni
or [ya:ni] .


: I also believe that I have heard it as a name, "johny" but it
: does seem to be used to lead some sentences as intregral
: item.


Iani (Yani) is a greek form of "John" (AFAIK short for IoannHs).

turks familiar with both joke when someone excessively uses [ya`ni]

since Maria has come to the neighborhood no one hears form Yani anymore.

([ya:ni] or [yani] both with stress on the first syllable, at least in
turkish) anymore" (Maria mahalleye geleli beri Yani'den artIk haber yok
(litt. "no news from Yani")) i.e. Yani is busy with Maria, no point in
calling for him!

[Ben Zimmer]

Post by Yusuf B Gursey
: [I am just learning Arabic.]
: On TV (likely fusHa/MSA but could be dialects too) this
: word pops up fairly frequently.
: It could mean "well" or be a (likely third person) verb, but
: I cannot seem to find it in my dictionaries.
: I might have the spelling off of course, but it sounds like a
: doubled-n and it doesn't sound like there is a 'ain or hamza
: in the first syllable (actually that is the key there as it sounds
: like a simple two syllable word.)
you mean ya3ni: "it (m.s.) means". in formal usgae, it introduces a
defintion etc. but in more causal speech (this is not a matter of standrad
vs. colloquial) it is what arabs use when musing over a word or just for
emphasis. etc. "well, ehem", "that is to say". arabs may be heard using
it even when speaking another language such as english.
found under 3ny
(turkish incidentally also uses it in the same way. pronouncing it [ya'ni
or [ya:ni] .

There's also Malay/Indonesian <yakni> [ya'ni] 'that is, namely, viz.'.