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Ḥad Gadya has a place in Seder tables throughout Arda, and in many communities it was read in translation. This translation into Quenya is necessary for any good Lothlórien sedarim.
But to be serious, Quenya was one of several languages developed by J.R.R. Tolkien. It serves as the sacred ancestral language of the Noldorin elves in the Middle-Earth legendarium. The editor here has developed this adaptation of the well-known seder table-song Ḥad Gadya into Quenya, as well as a home-brewed transcription system into Hebrew script included here (PDF | ODT). This translation uses several fan-made terms, such as cuimacir for “butcher” and luhtya– for “extinguish”, as well as one original neologism, yacincë for “kid-goat.”
The editor is not an expert in Tolkien’s languages, so if there are any grammatical errors, feel free to leave a comment! (Thanks to the experts at elfdict for their help!)
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| Source (Aramaic) | Translation (Judeo-Quenya) | Translation (Judeo-Quenya Romanized) | Translation (Judeo-Quenya Hebraized) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
Min yacincë, min yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
One little goat, one little goat, that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא שֻׁנְרָא וְאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i miuë Ar mantes i yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִימִיֻאֶי אַרְמַנְטֶס אִייַקִנְקֶי אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
A cat came and ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא כַּלְבָּא וְנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i roa Ar nances i miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִירוֹאַה אַרְנַנְקֶס אִימִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
A dog came and bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא חֻטְרָא וְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i olba Ar palampës i roa, I nancë miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִיאוֹלְבַּה אַרְפַּלַמְפֶּס אִירוֹאַה אִי־נַנְקֶי מִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
A stick came and hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא נוּרָא וְשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i ruinë Ar urtanes i olba, I palampë roa, I nancë miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִירֻאִנֶי אַרְאֻרְטַנֶס אִיאוֹלְבַּה אִי־פַּלַמְפֶּי רוֹאַה, אִי־נַנְקֶי מִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
A fire came and burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא מַיָּא וְכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i nén, Ar luyuntes i ruine, I urtanë olba, I palampë roa, I nancë miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִינֵין אַרְלֻיֻנְטֶס אִירֻאִנֶי, אִי־אֻרְטַנֶי אוֹלְבַּה, אִי־פַּלַמְפֶּי רוֹאַה, אִי־נַנְקֶי מִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
Water came and put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא תּוֹרָא וְשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i mundo, Ar yúles i nén, I luyuntë ruinë, I urtanë olba, I palampë roa, I nancë miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִימֻנְדוֹ, אַרְיוּלֶס אִינֵין, אִי־לֻיֻנְטֶי רֻאִנֶי, אִי־אֻרְטַנֶי אוֹלְבַּה, אִי־פַּלַמְפֶּי רוֹאַה, אִי־נַנְקֶי מִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
An ox came and drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא הַשּׁוֹחֵט וְשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i cuimacir, Ar nacantes i mundo, I yúlë nén, I luyuntë ruinë, I urtanë olba, I palampë roa, I nancë miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִיקֻאִמַקִר, אַרְנַקַנְטֶס אִימֻנְדוֹ, אִי־יוּלֶי נֵין, אִי־לֻיֻנְטֶי רֻאִנֶי, אִי־אֻרְטַנֶי אוֹלְבַּה, אִי־פַּלַמְפֶּי רוֹאַה, אִי־נַנְקֶי מִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
A butcher came and slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא מַלְאַךְ־הַמָּ֫וֶת וְשָׁחַט לְשׁוֹחֵט, דְּשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë i máiya fíriéno Ar nacantes i cuimacir, I nacantë mundo, I yúlë nén, I luyuntë ruinë, I urtanë olba, I palampë roa, I nancë miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אִי מַיַה פִֿרְיֵינוּ אַרְנַקַנְטֶס אִיקֻאִמַקִר, אִי־נַקַנְטֶי מֻנְדוֹ, אִי־יוּלֶי נֵין, אִי־לֻיֻנְטֶי רֻאִנֶי, אִי־אֻרְטַנֶי אוֹלְבַּה, אִי־פַּלַמְפֶּי רוֹאַה, אִי־נַנְקֶי מִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
The Angel of Death came and slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
וְאָתָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא וְשָׁחַט לְמַלְאַךְ־הַמָּ֫וֶת דְּשָׁחַט לְשׁוֹחֵט, דְּשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ ⸱ : |
San túlë Eru Ilúvatar, Ar nacantes i máiya fíriéno, I nacantë cuimacir, I nacantë mundo, I yúlë nén, I luyuntë ruinë, I urtanë olba, I palampë roa, I nancë miuë, I mantë yacincë, I atya homancanë castanten, Min yacincë, min yacincë. |
סַן טוּלֶי אֶרֻא אִלוּבַֿטַר, אַרְנַקַנְטֶס אִימַייַה פִֿרְיֵינוּ אִי־נַקַנְטֶי קֻאִמַקִר, אִי־נַקַנְטֶי מֻנְדוֹ, אִי־יוּלֶי נֵין, אִי־לֻיֻנְטֶי רֻאִנֶי, אִי־אֻרְטַנֶי אוֹלְבַּה, אִי־פַּלַמְפֶּי רוֹאַה, אִי־נַנְקֶי מִיֻאֶי, אִי־מַנְטֶי יַקִנְקֶי, אִי־אַטְיַה הוֹמַנְקַנֶי קַסְטַנְטֶן, מִן יַקִנְקֶי, מִן יַקִנְקֶי׃ |
Then the blessed Holy One came and slaughtered the Angel of Death who slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that hit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat. |
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“חַד גַּדְיָא | | Min Yacincë (מִן יַקִינְקֶי) — a Judeo-Quenya translation of Ḥad Gadya by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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