← H585 H587 →

אֲנַחְנָא

𐤀𐤍𐤇𐤍𐤀

ʼănachnâʼ

H586 pronoun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain we (first-person plural subject pronoun), collective self-reference

Definition

First-person plural independent pronoun in Biblical Aramaic, meaning 'we' – the speaker(s) referring to themselves collectively. Used to indicate a group including the speaker, marking the subject of verbal action or emphasizing collective identity. The core lexical function is as a personal pronoun rather than a noun or substantive. The form specifically differentiates first-person plural subject from other pronominal forms.

Semantic Range

we (personal pronoun referring to a group including the speaker), us (with prepositions or emphasis), collective identity marker

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain; derives from the West Semitic pronominal system. Cognate with Hebrew אֲנַחְנוּ ('anakhnu), Ugaritic nḥnu, and similar forms in other Northwest Semitic languages. Likely ultimately built from a Proto-Semitic pronominal base, but its internal morphological breakdown is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אֲנַחְנָא is attested exclusively in Biblical Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel and Ezra). It functions exclusively as an independent, emphatic subject pronoun, as opposed to the pronominal suffixes used for direct or indirect objects. Unlike Hebrew אֲנַחְנוּ which is frequent throughout the Hebrew Bible, this Aramaic form appears only in exile period texts which employ Imperial Aramaic. The English translation 'we' conveys the meaning accurately, but does not capture any nuance, since English lacks separate marked or unmarked pronoun forms. The form is not affected by gender in Biblical Aramaic and is used for both mixed and all-female groups. There is no significant difference in function between אֲנַחְנָא and later Aramaic pronoun forms, though minor dialectal variants are attested in chronologically later texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or אֲנַחְנָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to אֲנַחְנוּ; we; we.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

אנחנא (ʾ-n-ḥ-n-ʾ) — collective self-reference, first-person plural identity

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H586-01 אֲנַ֣חְנָא anachena APp1cp we we 2
H586-02 אֲנַ֧חְנָה anachenah APp1cp we we 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H586-02 Daniel 3:16 אֲנַ֧חְנָה anachenah APp1cp we we
H586-01 Daniel 3:17 אֲנַ֣חְנָא anachena APp1cp we we
H586-02 Ezra 4:16 אֲנַ֨חְנָה֙ anachenah APp1cp we we
H586-01 Ezra 5:11 אֲנַ֣חְנָא anachena APp1cp we we
← H585 Hebrew Lexicon H587 →