إما
Arabic
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʔim.maː/
Etymology 1
Univerbation of إِن (ʔin, “if”) + مَا (mā, relative).
Conjunction
إِمَّا • (ʔimmā)
- used for disjunction, both posited as equal alternatives, either … or, be it that, whether, may it be that, etc.
- كُلُّ شَيْءٍ إِمَّا مَوْجُودٌ وَإِمَّا مَعْدُومٌ.
- kullu šayʔin ʔimmā mawjūdun waʔimmā maʕdūmun.
- Every object is either existent or inexistent.
Related terms
Etymology 2
إِن (ʔin, “if”) + ـمَا (-mā, “soever”).
Conjunction
إِمَّا • (ʔimmā)
References
- Tropper, Josef (2003) “Sekundäres wortanlautendes Alif im Arabischen”, in Kogan, Leonid, editor, Studia Semitica (Orientalia: Papers of the Oriental Institute; III), Moscow, →ISBN, page 202
Moroccan Arabic
Etymology
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʔim.ma/
Conjunction
إما • (ʔimma)
- either (used together with أولا (ʔawla, “or”), ولا (walla, “or”) or أو (ʔaw, “or”))
- Synonym: يا (yā)
- إما غادي تمشي فحالك ولّا غادي نعيط للبوليس.
- ʔimma ḡādi timši f-ḥālek walla ḡādi nʕayyaṭ l-el-būlīs.
- Either you will leave or I will call the police.
South Levantine Arabic
Etymology
Pronunciation
Conjunction
إمّا • (ʔimma)