מי
𐤌𐤉
mâh
what-to-me
An interrogative particle used principally to ask about the nature, identity, quantity, or quality of entities or actions, often translated as 'what?' or 'how?'. Also functions in exclamations and indefinite or relative senses (e.g., 'whatever', 'that which'). The precise meaning is heavily context-dependent, ranging from direct questions ('what is this?'), to expressions of astonishment ('how mighty!'), to indirect questions or statements ('whatever you do').
Isaiah 52:5 · Word #2
Lexicon H4100
| Lemma | מָה |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤌𐤄 |
| Transliteration | mâh |
| Strong's | H4100 |
| Definition | An interrogative particle used principally to ask about the nature, identity, quantity, or quality of entities or actions, often translated as 'what?' or 'how?'. Also functions in exclamations and indefinite or relative senses (e.g., 'whatever', 'that which'). The precise meaning is heavily context-dependent, ranging from direct questions ('what is this?'), to expressions of astonishment ('how mighty!'), to indirect questions or statements ('whatever you do'). |
Morphology HTi
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | T — Particle — Function word |
| Subtype | i — Interrogative — Interrogative |
Common Translation
| Phrase | what-to-me |
SIBI-P1 Translation H4100-11
what?
| Morphological Notes | Interrogative particle; indeclinable; no gender, number, or stem distinctions. |
| Rendering Rationale | This form is the primitive interrogative particle מָה, used to seek specification or identification. As an indeclinable particle, it is best rendered concisely as "what?" to preserve its core interrogative force apart from context. |
View full lexicon entry for H4100 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
what
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | Contextually, this is an interrogative 'what' introducing the direct speech/quotation. The addition of a question mark in P1 is not necessary in a word-for-word rendering since it only reflects the word, not punctuation. |