Getting Acquainted

These phrases are focused upon getting to know someone better.

What is your name?

Mah sh‘mak? (->m)
Mah sh‘mek? (->f)

My name is …

Sh‘mi …

Where are you from?

M’nan at?

I am from …

Ana min…

    • Qartha d’-… — The City/Town/Borough of … . 1
    • M’dintha d’-… — Provence of … . 2
    • Ar’a d’-… — The Country/Land of … .

Where do you work?

At la`ey b-m’nan? (->m)
At la`ayah b-m’nan? (->f)

What kind of work do you do? / What is your profession?

Ber mah umanuta at? (->m)
Bert mah umanuta at? (->f)

I am …

Ana… 3

(Agriculture)

      • Aris or Palah — a Farmer
      • Ganan — a Gardener
      • Garos or Tahon — a Miller or Gristmaker
      • Siton — a Grain Dealer
      • Pa`al — an Agricultural Worker or Day Laborer
      • Çaiyad — a Hunter or Fisherman
      • Ra`ey / Ra`aiyah (m/f) — a Shepherd / Shepherdess

(Food)

      • Nahatom — a Baker
      • Siqiyar — a Sausage Maker
      • P’stor — a Chef or Cook
      • Qaçab — a Butcher

(The Arts)

      • Uman / Umanah (m/f) — a Craftsman or an Artist
      • Arketaqton — an Architect
      • Zamar / Zamarah (m/f) — a Singer
      • Po’etan — a Poet

(Crafts)

      • Gardaiy — a Weaver
      • Dahab / Dahabah (m/f) — a Goldsmith or Jewelry Maker
      • Zagag — a Glassblower or Glassmaker
      • Haiyt — a Tailor
      • Kasap — a Silversmith or Jewelry Maker
      • Nagar — a Carpenter
      • Pahar or Qadar — a Potter
      • Çaba` — a Fabric Dyer
      • Çarap — a Refiner or Smelter
      • Qaçar — a Fuller or one who works in textiles

(Education)

      • Esqaran — an Archivist
      • Malpan — a Teacher
      • Malol — a Composer of Parables and Anecdotes
      • S’par — a Writer or Scholar
      • Saqor — an Astronomer
      • Pedgog / Pedgugah (m/f) — a Children’s Teacher 4
      • Rabi — a Scholar, Master, or Teacher of higher education
      • Turgaman — a Translator
      • Talmid — a Student

(Legal)

      • Esqabtor — a Court Secretary
      • Dioqat or Qategor— a Prosecutor
      • Daiyan — a Judge
      • Sanegor — a Defense Lawyer

(Miscellaneous)

      • Astrologos — an Astrologer
      • Hanoi — a Shopkeeper
      • Trapezit — a Currency Trader or Moneychanger
      • Maloi / Maloiyah (m/f) — a Water Drawer 5
      • Sabol — a Bearer or Porter
      • Sapar — a Barber
      • `Ab‘d — a Servant
      • `Arab — a Guarantor 6
      • Pondakaiy — an Innkeeper
      • Palah — a Worker
      • Qapelaiy — a Shopkeeper of Tavern-keeper.
      • Rash or Resh — a Chief, Captain, or someone in charge.
      • Tagar — a Merchant

(Maritime)

      • Nauwt — a Sailor
      • Çaiyad — a Hunter or Fisherman
      • Q’barnet — a Helmsman or Captain

Medicine

      • Assi — a Doctor or Physician
      • Haiyah — a Midwife

(Government)

      • Apitropos — an Administrator
      • Arkon — a Governor
      • Ber Boley / Berth Boley (m/f) — a City Councilman / Councilwoman
      • Karoz — an Announcer or Public Crier
      • Makas — a Customs Collector or Customs Officer
      • Nasi — a President 7
      • Sanator — a Senator
      • Patir-boley — the Head or Chair of a Council
      • Parnas — a Community Leader
      • Rab Qartha — a Mayor
      • Sh‘liah — a Messenger or Delegate
      • Saheyd — a Notary

(Military & Police)

      • Duqos — an Army Commander
      • Nator — a Watchman or Guard
      • Sartiyot — a Police Officer
      • Sarak or Sarkan — a Commander
      • Polemark — a Warrior
      • Polmaiy — a Soldier
      • Shaloh — a Dispatcher

(Religion)

      • Darshan — a Traveling Preacher
      • Kahan / Kahanah (m/f) — a Priest
      • Rabi — a Scholar, Master, or Teacher of higher education

Are you married? (lit. “Do you have a husband/wife?”)

w-Ith ithah lak? (->m)
w-Ith ba`al lek? (->f)

I’m single. (lit. “I do not have a husband/wife.”)

Leyth ithah li. (m->)
Leyth ba`al li. (f->)

I’m divorced. (lit. “I am a divorcee.”)

Ana mashbaq. (m->)
Ana mashb’qah. (f->)

I’m a widower.

Ana armal. (m->)
Ana arm’lah. (f->)

Do you have any children?

w-Ith benin lak? (->m)
w-Ith benin lek? (->f)

How many children do you have?

K’mah benin lak? (->m)
K’mah benin lek? (->f)

I have … children. (See the lesson on numbers.)

Ith … benin li.

How old are you?

Ber k’mah sh‘nin at? (->m)
Berth k’mah sh‘nin at? (->f)

I am … years old. (See the lesson on numbers.)

Ana ber … sh‘nin. (m->)
Ana berth … sh‘nin. (f->)

Notes:

  1. For cities, towns, villages, any settlement in general. ↩
  2. Usually for larger provinces or countries that in the ancient world were referred to by the name of their capitol city. In modern times this could refer to a state (such as M’dintha d’New Jersey) or even large metropolitan areas (M’dintha d’New York could technically mean New York State or the greater New York City area). ↩
  3. Gender pairs for each profession will be added soon. ↩
  4. Loan from the Greek “Pedagogue.” ↩
  5. Could be used today for a pump operator or the likes. ↩
  6. This could certainly be used for someone who works in the modern Insurance industry, for it was functionally similar. ↩
  7. Originally meant something close to “Prince.” The meaning of “President” was adopted into Modern Hebrew and, in truth, the function of the office was pretty much the same. There’s no real reason why not to use this word in this context. ↩

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