Old Armenian

Pronoun

զի՞ • ‎(zi^?)

1. (interrogative) what? what thing?

   զի՞ կայ իմ եւ քո‎ ― zi^? kay im ew kʿo ― what do you want; or: what do you want of me?

   քեզ զի՞ փոյթ է‎ ― kʿez zi^? pʿoytʿ ē ― what does it matter to you?

   զի՞ է որդեակ‎ ― zi^? ē ordeak ― what do you want my son?

   զի՞ արդեօք‎ ― zi^? ardeōkʿ ― what? how? what is it?

   զի՞ արդեօք Պետրոսն եղեւ‎ ― zi^? ardeōkʿ Petrosn ełew ― what has happened to Peter?

2. (interrogative) why? for what reason?

   զի՞ է զի‎ ― zi^? ē zi ― what is the motive for which? why? what is it? why then?

   զի՞ է զի յարեւու եկիք այսօր‎ ― zi^? ē zi yarewu ekikʿ aysōr ― how happens it that you are returned before sun-down?

Synonyms

• (what): զինչ ‎(zinčʿ)

Conjunction

զի • ‎(zi)

1. for, because; in order that, to the end that; that

   Զի քո արքայութիւն եւ զօրութիւն եւ փառք յաւիտեանս: Ամէն:‎ ― Zi kʿo arkʿayutʿiwn ew zōrutʿiwn ew pʿaṙkʿ yawiteans: Amēn: ― For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

   եւ զի‎ ― ew zi ― since, because

   վասն զի‎ ― vasn zi ― for, because, wherefore

   զի մի, զի մի երբէք‎ ― zi mi, zi mi erbēkʿ ― lest, for fear that, that never

   մի՛ դատիք, զի մի՛ դատիցիք‎ ― mí datikʿ, zi mí daticʿikʿ ― do not judge lest ye be judged

   որպէս զի‎ ― orpēs zi ― in order that, that, to the end that, so that; because, for

   է զի, էր զի‎ ― ē zi, ēr zi ― sometimes; now and then

   զի՞ է զի‎ ― zi^? ē zi ― what is the motive for which? why? what is it? why then?

   իբրեւ զի, իբր զի‎ ― ibrew zi, ibr zi ― as if, as though

   կարեւոր է զի‎ ― karewor ē zi ― it is important that

   մի՛ զի կոյր էր եւ մի զի աղքատ էր‎ ― mí zi koyr ēr ew mi zi ałkʿat ēr ― in the first place he was blind, in the next poor

   մինչ զի‎ ― minčʿ zi ― so that, in such a manner that

   փոխանակ զի‎ ― pʿoxanak zi ― whereas; for as much as, since, because

Interjection

զի՜ • ‎(zi^!)

1. how! how much!

   զի՜ անգութ ես‎ ― zi^! angutʿ es ― how cruel you are!

   զի՜ բարի կամ զի՜ վայելուչ‎ ― zi^! bari kam zi^! vayelučʿ ― how good and how pleasant!

Derived terms

References

• Awetikʿean, G.; Siwrmēlean, X.; Awgerean, M. (1836–1837), “զի”, in Nor baṙgirkʿ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
• Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1971–1979), “զի”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, Yerevan: University Press, published 1926–1935
• Petrosean, H. Matatʿeay V. (1879), “զի”, in Nor Baṙagirkʿ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy