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A translation of Ḥad Gadya into Hulaulá (Trans-Zab Jewish Neo-Aramaic), the Aramaic dialect of the Jews of Sanandaj. Largely based on the translation of Alan Niku (found here), with a few minor changes, and with the transcription altered to the scholarly transcription of Geoffrey Khan in his analysis of the dialect. Also featuring a transcription into Hebrew script.
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| Source (Aramaic) | Translation (Aramaic, Hulaulá, romanized) | Translation (Aramaic, Hulaulá) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza tati šəqlale tre šahiye[1] In Alan Niku’s text, zuze. Here changed to the local currency, the šahi. xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiya qaṭu ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיַא קַטוּ עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiye kalba qaṭwăke ngzale[2] In Alan Niku’s text, xilale — “ate it.” Here changed to the word for “bit it.” ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיֵי כַּלְבַּא קַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiye ṣiwa kalbăke dile ke qaṭwăke ngzale ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיֵי צִיוַא כַּלְבֲּכֵּי דִּילֵי כֵּקַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiye nura ṣiwăke məqle ke kalbăke dile ke qaṭwăke ngzale ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיֵי נוּרַא צִיוֲכֵּי מְקְלֵי כֵּכַּלְבֲּכֵּי דִּילֵי כֵּקַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiyen mae nurăke mtixlu ke ṣiwăke məqle ke kalbăke dile ke qaṭwăke ngzale ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיֵין מַאֵי נוּרֲכֵּי מְתִּכְלוּ כֵּצִיוֲכֵּי מְקְלֵי כֵּכַּלְבֲּכֵּי דִּילֵי כֵּקַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiya torta make štenila ke nurăke mtixlu ke ṣiwăke məqle ke kalbăke dile ke qaṭwăke ngzale ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיַא תּוֹרְתַּא מַכֵּי שְׁתֵּנִילַה כֵּנוּרֲכֵּי מְתִּכְלוּ כֵּצִיוֲכֵּי מְקְלֵי כֵּכַּלְבֲּכֵּי דִּילֵי כֵּקַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiye qăṣāb tortăke dəbḥale ke make štenila ke nurăke mtixlu ke ṣiwăke məqle ke kalbăke dile ke qaṭwăke ngzale ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיֵי קֲצַאבּ תּוֹרְתֲּכֵּי דְּבְּחַלֵי כֵּמַכֵּי שְׁתֵּנִילַה כֵּנוּרֲכֵּי מְתִּכְלוּ כֵּצִיוֲכֵּי מְקְלֵי כֵּכַּלְבֲּכֵּי דִּילֵי כֵּקַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiya frišta mola qăṣābăke dəbḥale ke tortăke dəbḥale ke make štenila ke nurăke mtixlu ke ṣiwăke məqle ke kalbăke dile ke qaṭwăke ngzale ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיַא פְרִישְׁתַּא מוֹלַא קֲצַאבֲּכֵּי דְּבְּחַלֵי כֵּתּוֹרְתֲּכֵּי דְּבְּחַלֵי כֵּמַכֵּי שְׁתֵּנִילַה כֵּנוּרֲכֵּי מְתִּכְלוּ כֵּצִיוֲכֵּי מְקְלֵי כֵּכַּלְבֲּכֵּי דִּילֵי כֵּקַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
hiye haqadoš barux hu frišta molăke dəbḥale ke qăṣābăke dəbḥale ke tortăke dəbḥale ke make štenila ke nurăke mtixlu ke ṣiwăke məqle ke kalbăke dile ke qaṭwăke ngzale ke ʾəzzonăke xilale ʾəzzonăke tati šəqlale tre šahiye xa ʾəzza, xa ʾəzza |
הִיֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא פְרִישְׁתַּא מוֹלֲכֵּי דְּבְּחַלֵי כֵּקֲצַאבֲּכֵּי דְּבְּחַלֵי כֵּתּוֹרְתֲּכֵּי דְּבְּחַלֵי כֵּמַכֵּי שְׁתֵּנִילַה כֵּנוּרֲכֵּי מְתִּכְלוּ כֵּצִיוֲכֵּי מְקְלֵי כֵּכַּלְבֲּכֵּי דִּילֵי כֵּקַטְוֲכֵּי נְגְזַלֵי כֵּעְזּוֹנֲכֵּי כִילַלֵי עְזּוֹנֲכֵּי תַּתִּי שְׁקְלַלֵי תְּרֵי שַׁהִיֵי כַא עְזַּא, כַא עְזַּא׃ |
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. |
This is the translation of Ḥad Gadya into an invented dialect of Aramaic in Hulaulá (Sanandaj Judeo-Neo-Aramaic) by Isaac Gantwerk Mayer.
The earliest known appearance of “Ḥad Gadya,” by an unknown author, can be found, handwritten, in the Prague Haggadah (1526). The Aramaic has been vocalized according to the Prague Haggadah (1590). Besides the transcription of the Aramaic with its vocalization, I have also added an English translation adapted from Eve Levavi Feinstein’s Passover Haggadah translation. –Aharon N. Varady
Notes
“חַד גַּדְיָא | Xa ʾƏza (כָא עֶזָא) — a Hulaulá (Sanandaj Judeo-Neo-Aramaic) translation of Ḥad Gadya” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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Figurine of an animal, exhibited in Sanandaj (credit: Maometto, license: CC BY-SA)
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