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This is a Judeo-Moroccan Arabic (Darija) adaptation of the Passover song Ḥad Gadya, as found in the maḥzor, Sefer Moȝadé Hashem (1856). Some uniquely Moroccan aspects of this text, which make it clear this is in Moroccan Arabic specifically, include:
• the use of “zouz” in place of the standard Arabic “ithnan” to refer to the number 2
• the interchangeability of shin and sin, both pronounced as /s/, and of zayin and gimel, both pronounced as /z/ — a unique aspect of pre-Hilalian Maghrebi dialects like Judeo-Moroccan Arabic
• the dialectal diminutive form of -wa, along with the uniquely northern Moroccan diminutive mouyma for “a bit of water”
Perhaps due to influence from Andalusian Spanish, this text shows signs of īmala, wherein /aa/ is fronted to /ie/ when near a yod. Īmala is not particularly found in Muslim Moroccan Arabic. In this transcription, īmala is marked as <ä>, since its development is parallel to that of Germanic umlaut.
As is often the case in translation, some of the nouns are different. Specifically, everything from the kid up to the water is written in the diminutive. So in the Darija text, instead of water putting out fire burning a staff hitting a dog biting a cat eating a goat, you have a bit of water putting out a flamelet burning a stick hitting a puppy biting a kitten eating a kiddie.
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| Source (Aramaic) | Translation (Moroccan Arabic) | Translation (Moroccan/Judeo-Arabic) | Translation (romanized Moroccan Arabic) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
One little kid, one little kid, that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
וְאָתָא שֻׁנְרָא וְאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وجات القطيطة وکلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַאת אלְקְטְיוּטָא וּכְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaat ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa ou-klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
A kitten came and nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
וְאָתָא כַּלְבָּא וְנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وجات الکليبة وعضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַאת אלְכְּלִיבָּא וּעְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaat ₔl-kₔliyyba ou-ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
A puppy came and bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
וְאָתָא חֻטְרָא וְהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وجات العصوة وضربت الکليبة دی عضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַאת אלְעְסֵׄיוָא וּדְׄרְבָּת אלְכְּלִיבָּא דִּי עְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaat ₔl-ȝₔṣäwa ou-ḍₔrbat ₔl-kₔliyyba di ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
A stick came and hit the puppy that bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
וְאָתָא נוּרָא וְשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وجات العويڢية وحرقت العصوة دی ضربت الکليبة دی عضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַאת אלְעוּיְפְיָא וּחְרְקּת אלְעְסֵיוָ׳א דִי דְׄרְבָּת אלְכְּלִיבָּא דִּי עְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaat ₔl-ȝouyfya ou-ḥraqt ₔl-ȝₔṣäwa di ḍₔrbat ₔl-kₔliyyba di ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
A flamelet came and burned the stick that hit the puppy that bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
וְאָתָא מַיָּא וְכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وجات المويمة وطڢات العويڢيه دی حرقت العصوة دی ضربت الکليبة دی عضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַאת אלְמוּיְמָא וּטְפַאת אלְעוּיְפְיָא דִּי חְרְקּת אלְעְסֵיוָ׳א דִי דְׄרְבָּת אלְכְּלִיבָּא דִּי עְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaat ₔl-mouyma ou-tfaat ₔl-ȝouyfya di ḥraqt ₔl-ȝₔṣäwa di ḍₔrbat ₔl-kₔliyyba di ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
A puddle of water came and put out the flamelet that burned the stick that hit the puppy that bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
וְאָתָא תּוֹרָא וְשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وجا التور وشرب المويمة دی طڢات العويڢيه دی حرقت العصوة دی ضربت الکليبة دی عضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַא אלְטוֹר וּסְרְבּ אלְמוּיְמָא דִּי טְפַאת אלְעוּיְפְיָא דִּי חְרְקּת אלְעְסֵיוָ׳א דִי דְׄרְבָּת אלְכְּלִיבָּא דִּי עְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaa ₔl-toouṛ ou-sₔrₔb ₔl-mouyma di tfaat ₔl-ȝouyfya di ḥraqt ₔl-ȝₔṣäwa di ḍₔrbat ₔl-kₔliyyba di ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
An ox came and drank up the water puddle that put out the flamelet that burned the stick that hit the puppy that bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
וְאָתָא הַשּׁוֹחֵט וְשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָא לְמַיָּא, דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחֻטְרָא, דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשֻׁנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַדְיָא, דְּזַבִּן אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי, חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא. |
وجا الذبّح وذبح التور دی شرب المويمة دی طڢات العويڢيه دی حرقت العصوة دی ضربت الکليبة دی عضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַא אדְבָּבאח וּדְבַּח אלְטוֹר דִּי סְרְבּ אלְמוּיְמָא דִּי טְפַאת אלְעוּיְפְיָא דִּי חְרְקּת אלְעְסֵיוָ׳א דִי דְׄרְבָּת אלְכְּלִיבָּא דִּי עְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaa ₔdₔbbaaḥ ou-dbaḥ ₔl-toouṛ di sₔrₔb ₔl-mouyma di tfaat ₔl-ȝouyfya di ḥraqt ₔl-ȝₔṣäwa di ḍₔrbat ₔl-kₔliyyba di ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
A butcher came and slaughtered the ox that drank up the water puddle that put out the flamelet that burned the stick that hit the puppy that bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
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. |
وجا ملاك هموت وذبح الذبّح دی ذبح التور دی شرب المويمة دی طڢات العويڢيه دی حرقت العصوة دی ضربت الکليبة دی عضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת וּדְבַּח אדְבָּבאח דִּי דְבַּח אלְטוֹר דִּי סְרְבּ אלְמוּיְמָא דִּי טְפַאת אלְעוּיְפְיָא דִּי חְרְקּת אלְעְסֵיוָ׳א דִי דְׄרְבָּת אלְכְּלִיבָּא דִּי עְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaa mal’aḵ ha-mawet ou-dbaḥ ₔdₔbbaaḥ di dbaḥ ₔl-toouṛ di sₔrₔb ₔl-mouyma di tfaat ₔl-ȝouyfya di ḥraqt ₔl-ȝₔṣäwa di ḍₔrbat ₔl-kₔliyyba di ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
The Angel of Death came and slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank up the water puddle that put out the flamelet that burned the stick that hit the puppy that bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
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. |
وجا هقدوش بروك هوا وذبح ملاك هموت دی ذبح الذبّح دی ذبح التور دی شرب المويمة دی طڢات العويڢيه دی حرقت العصوة دی ضربت الکليبة دی عضت القطيطة دی کلت الجديوة دی شرالی بابا بجوج ڢلوس وحد الجديوة وحد الجديوة |
וּזַא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּדְבַּח מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת דִּי דְבַּח אדְבָּבאח דִּי דְבַּח אלְטוֹר דִּי סְרְבּ אלְמוּיְמָא דִּי טְפַאת אלְעוּיְפְיָא דִּי חְרְקּת אלְעְסֵיוָ׳א דִי דְׄרְבָּת אלְכְּלִיבָּא דִּי עְדְׄת אלְקְטְיוּטָא דִּי כְּלִת אזְדִיוַא דִי סְרַאלִי בַּאבַּא בְּזוּז פְלוּס וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא׃ |
ou-zaa ha-qadoous barouḵ hou ou-dbaḥ mal’aḵ ha-mawet di dbaḥ ₔdₔbbaaḥ di dbaḥ ₔl-toouṛ di sₔrₔb ₔl-mouyma di tfaat ₔl-ȝouyfya di ḥraqt ₔl-ȝₔṣäwa di ḍₔrbat ₔl-kₔliyyba di ȝₔḍḍₔt ₔl-qₔṭyouṭa di klät ₔzdiwa di sraali baabaa b-zouz fₔlous waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa waaḥₔd ₔzdiwa |
Then the blessed Holy One came and slaughtered the Angel of Death who slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank up the water puddle that put out the flamelet that burned the stick that hit the puppy that bit the kitten that nibbled on the kid that my father bought for two zuzim. One little kid, one little kid. |
The earliest known appearance of “Ḥad Gadya,” by an unknown author, can be found, handwritten, in the Prague Haggadah (1526). The uncorrected source Aramaic has been vocalized according to the Prague Haggadah (1590). This Judeo-Moroccan adaptation is found on pages 154-156 in the maḥzor ספר מועדי ה׳ השלם (originally printed 1856). Many thanks to Milton Torres-Cerón for bringing this variation of Ḥad Gadya to our attention via the Passages of Rite discussion group on Facebook. 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 following the explanation of Isaac in his description concerning diminutives. –Aharon N. Varady
Source(s)
Waaḥₔd ₔZdiwa – mahzor Moadé Hashem, p. 154 Waaḥₔd ₔZdiwa – mahzor Moadé Hashem, p. 155 Waaḥₔd ₔZdiwa – mahzor Moadé Hashem, p. 156
“וַאחְדְ אזְדִיוַא | وحد الجديوة | חַד גַּדְיָא (Waaḥₔd ₔZdiwa) — a Judeo-Moroccan Arabic (Darija) adaptation 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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Goats in an argan tree, Morocco (credit: Elena Tatiana Chis, license: CC BY-SA)
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