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Ḥad Gadya has a place in Seder tables throughout the Jewish world, and in many communities it was read in translation. This translation is in Yevanic, also known as Judeo-Greek, the traditional language of the Romaniote communities of the former Byzantine Empire. Despite massive linguistic pressure from Ladino, Yevanic was preserved as a spoken Jewish language by the Romaniote Jewish communities, and is still spoken by some Jews in Ioannina. This text is also transcribed in a Hebrew phonemic script based on the spellings used in the medieval and early modern era by Yevanic-speaking Jews.
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| Source (Aramaic) | Translation (Yevanic/Greek) | Translation (Yevanic/Judeo-Greek) | Translation (Yevanic/Latin) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
Ένα κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
אֵנַה קַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Éna katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε η γάτα και έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי אִיגַֿטַה קֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe i gáta kai éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε ο σκύλος και έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי אוֹסְקִילוֹס קֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַהה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe o skýlos kai éfage ti gáta pou éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε το ξύλο και έβάρεσε το σκυλί που έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי טוֹקְסִילוֹ קֵבַֿרֵסֵי טוֹסְקִילִי פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe to xýlo kai évárese to skýlo pou éfage ti gáta kai éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε η φωτιά και έκαιγε το ξύλο που βάρεσε το σκύλο που έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי אִיפֿוֹטִיַה קֵקִַיגֵֿי טוֹקְסִילוֹ פּוּבַֿרֵסֵי טוֹסְקִילוֹ פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe i fotiá kai ékaige to xýlo pou évárese to skýlo pou éfage ti gáta kai éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε το νερό και έσβηνε τη φωτιά που έκαιγε το ξύλο που βάρεσε το σκύλο που έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי טוֹנֵרוֹ קֵסְבִֿינֵי טִיפֿוֹטִיַה פּוּאֵקִַיגֵֿי טוֹקְסִילוֹ פּוּבַֿרֵסֵי טוֹסְקִילוֹ פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe to neró kai ésvine ti fotiá pou ékaige to xýlo pou évárese to skýlo pou éfage ti gáta kai éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε ο αγελάδα και ήπιε το νερό που έσβηνε τη φωτιά που έκαιγε το ξύλο που βάρεσε το σκύλο που έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי אוֹאַגֶֿלַדַֿה קֵאִיפִּיֵי טוֹנֵרוֹ פּוּאֵסְבִֿינֵי טִיפֿוֹטִיַה פּוּאֵקִַיגֵֿי טוֹקְסִילוֹ פּוּבַֿרֵסֵי טוֹסְקִילוֹ פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe o ageláda kai ípie to neró pou ésvine ti fotiá pou ékaige to xýlo pou évárese to skýlo pou éfage ti gáta kai éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε ο χασάπη και έσφαξε την αγελάδα που ήπιε το νερό που έσβηνε τη φωτιά που έκαιγε το ξύλο που βάρεσε το σκύλο που έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי אוֹכַֿסַפִּי קֵסְפַֿכְּסֵי טִינַגֵֿלַדַֿה פּוּאִיפִּיֵי טוֹנֵרוֹ פּוּאֵסְבִֿינֵי טִיפֿוֹטִיַה פּוּאֵקִַיגֵֿי טוֹקְסִילוֹ פּוּבַֿרֵסֵי טוֹסְקִילוֹ פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe o chasápi kai ésfaxe tin ageláda pou ípie to neró pou ésvine ti fotiá pou ékaige to xýlo pou várese to skylí pou éfage ti gáta pou éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε ο θάνατος και έσφαξε τον χασάπη που έσφαξε την αγελάδα που ήπιε το νερό που έσβηνε τη φωτιά που έκαιγε το ξύλο που βάρεσε το σκύλο που έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי אוֹתַֿנַטוֹס קֵסְפַֿכְּסֵי טוֹנְכַֿסַפִּי פּוּאֵסְפַֿכְּסֵי טִינַגֵֿלַדַֿה פּוּאִיפִּיֵי טוֹנֵרוֹ פּוּאֵסְבִֿינֵי טִיפֿוֹטִיַה פּוּאֵקִַיגֵֿי טוֹקְסִילוֹ פּוּבַֿרֵסֵי טוֹסְקִילוֹ פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe o thanatos, kai ésfaxe ton chasápi pou ésfaxe tin ageláda pou ípie to neró pou ésvine ti fotiá pou ékaige to xýlo pou várese to skýlo pou éfage ti gáta pou éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
Και ήρθε ακαντόση Μπαρουχού και έσφαξε το θάνατου που έσφαξε τον χασάπη που έσφαξε την αγελάδα που ήπιε το νερό που έσβηνε τη φωτιά που έκαιγε το ξύλο που βάρεσε το σκύλο που έφαγε τη γάτα που έφαγε το κατσίκι που μ’αγόρασ’ ο πατέρας μου με δυο άσπρα. Ένα κατσίκι, ένα κατσίκι. |
קֵאִירְתֵֿי הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא קֵֵסְפַֿכְּסֵי טוֹ תַֿנַטוּ פּוּאֵסְפַֿכְּסֵי טוֹנְכַֿסַפִּי פּוּאֵסְפַֿכְּסֵי טִינַגֵֿלַדַֿה פּוּאִיפִּיֵי טוֹנֵרוֹ פּוּאֵסְבִֿינֵי טִיפֿוֹטִיַה פּוּאֵקִַיגֵֿי טוֹקְסִילוֹ פּוּבַֿרֵסֵי טוֹסְקִילוֹ פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טִיגַֿטַה פּוּאֵפַֿגֵֿי טוֹקַצִיקִי פּוּמַגֿוֹרַס אוֹפַּטֵרַסְמוּ מֵדִיוֹ אַסְפְּרַה. אֵנַה קַצִיקִי, אֵנַה קַצִיקִי. |
Kai írthe aKantosi Mparouchou kai ésfaxe to thanatou, pou ésfaxe ton chasápi pou ésfaxe tin ageláda pou ípie to neró pou ésvine ti fotiá pou ékaige to xýlo pou várese to skýlo pou éfage ti gáta pou éfage to katsíki pou m’agóras’ o patéras mou, me dyo áspra. Éna katsíki, éna katsíki. |
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. |
The earliest known appearance of “Ḥad Gadya,” by an unknown author, can be found in the Prague Haggadah (1526). The text of the poem is in a form of playful Aramaic and it is accompanied by the lyrics in medieval Yiddish.[1] The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906, NY) vol. 8 page 190 s.v. “Had Gadya” calls it German. It is unclear which, if either, came first — the Yiddish or the Aramaic. The Aramaic above below follows the text as it appears 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 a translation sourced from Eve Levavi Feinstein’s Passover Haggadah translation. –Aharon N. Varady
Recordings
A recording of the first few verses can be found here:
Transliterations schema
[gview file=”https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Yevanic-Judeo-Greek-transcription-system-by-Isaac-Gantwerk-Mayer-2022.pdf”]
Notes
| 1 | The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906, NY) vol. 8 page 190 s.v. “Had Gadya” calls it German. |
|---|
“חַד גַּדְיָא | Ένα κατσίκι | Éna katsíki (אֵנַה קַצִיקִי) — a Yevanic 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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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17
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