A discrete unit of speech (word), message, or utterance; more broadly, an event, matter, issue, or thing under consideration. 'Davar' serves as a flexible term in Biblical Hebrew, used to denote both spoken and written words, as well as abstract or concrete matters or affairs. Its semantic range includes specific utterances, divine messages or commandments, matters of legal or administrative concern, and, in extended use, events, situations, or objects.

Etymology From the root דבר (d-b-r), meaning primarily 'to speak' or 'declare'. The noun form 'davar' originally denotes 'something spoken' but develops to encompass any matter, subject, or affair, whether linguistic or situational.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Ndebele indaba matter, business, affair, word, news
Shona nyaya matter, issue, story, news, case, conversation topic
Sukuma ndaba message, affair
Swati indaba matter, affair, news, issue, word
Xhosa indaba matter, issue, affair, news, story, subject of speech
Zulu Ndaba matter, affair, news, discussion