The standard structure to begin a question with ‘ayy(u) will be:
‘ayy(u) (of)-a unit-of-the units-verb
which (of)-a unit-of-the units-verb
Example:
which (of)-a picture-of-the pictures-(is)-the prettiest
Translation: which one of the pictures is the prettiest?
Now an example in Arabic:
أَيُّ صُوْرَةٍ مِنَ الصُّوَرِ أَجْمَلُ ؟
‘ayy(u) soorat(in) min(a) (‘a)s–suwar(i) ‘ajmal(u)
= which (of) a picture of the pictures (is) prettier
Translation: which one of the pictures is prettier than the rest?
which one of the pictures is the prettiest?
However, as it is usual in Arabic, this structure is rarely kept whole, and usually parts will be omitted from it.
It will be rendered either like this:
(1) which (of)-the units-verb
Or like this:
(2) which (of)–a unit-verb
Examples in Arabic:
أَيُّ الصُّوَرِ أَجْمَلُ ؟
‘ayy(u) (‘a)s–suwar(i) ‘ajmal(u)
= which (of) the pictures (is) prettier
Translation: which picture is prettier than the rest?
which picture is the prettiest?
أَيُّ صُوْرَةٍ أَجْمَلُ ؟
‘ayy(u) soorat(in) ‘ajmal(u)
= which (of) a picture (is) prettier
Translation: which picture is prettier than the rest?
which picture is the prettiest?
More examples:
أَيُّ الْصُّوْرَتَيْنِ أَجْمَلُ ؟
‘ayy(u) (‘a)s–sooratayn(i) ‘ajmal(u)
= which (of) the two pictures (is) prettier
Translation: which picture is prettier?
أَيَّاللُّغَاْتِ تَتَحَدَّثُ ؟
‘ayy(a) (‘a)l-luraat(i) tatahaddath(u)
= which (of) the languages (you sing. masc.) speak
Translation: which/what language do you speak?
which/what language are you speaking?
أَيَّ لُغَةٍ تَتَحَدَّثُ ؟
‘ayy(a) lurat(in) tatahaddath(u)
= which (of) a language (you sing. masc.) speak
Translation: which/what language do you speak?
which/what language are you speaking?
In the last two examples, ‘ayy(a)was in the accusative case because it was an object of the verb.
مِنْ أَيِّالْمُدُنِ أَنْتَ ؟
min ‘ayy(i) (‘a)l-mudun(i) ‘ant(a)
= from which (of) the cities (are) you
Translation: which city are you from?
مِنْ أَيِّ مَدِيْنَةٍ أَنْتَ ؟
min ‘ayy(i)madeena(tin) ‘ant(a)
= from which (of) a city (are) you
Translation: which city are you from ?
In the last two examples, ‘ayy(i)was in the ablative case because it was preceded by a particle-preposition or an ablative particle.
When‘ayy(u) is followed by pronouns, they will have to be object pronouns, and thus they will be attached.
أَيُّكُمْ أَخَذَ هَذَاْ ؟
‘ayyu-kum ‘akhath(a) haathaa
= which (of) you (plu. masc.) took this
Translation: which one of you took this?
The whole form of this sentence would be:
which (of)-a one-of-you-took-this
In Arabic:
أَيُّ وَاْحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ أَخَذَ هَذَاْ ؟
‘ayy(u) waahid(in) min-kum ‘akhath(a) haathaa
= which (of) a one of you (plu. masc.) took this
Translation: which one of you took this?
More examples:
أَيَّهُمْرَأَيْتَ ؟
‘ayya-hum ra’ayt(a)
= which (of) them (plu. masc.) (you sing. masc.) saw
Translation: which of them did you see?
which of them have you seen?
إِلَىْ أَيِّكُنَّ أُرْسِلُهَاْ ؟
‘ilaa ‘ayyi-kunn(a) ‘ursilu-haa
= to which (of) you (plu. fem.) (I) will send her/it
Translation: to which of you will I send her/it?
to whom of you should I send her/it?
Attachment of ‘ayy(u) to different object pronouns:
| Attachment of ‘ayy(u) to Object Pronouns | ||
| Which (of) you (dual) | ‘ayyu-kumaa | أَيُّكُمَاْ |
| Which (of) them (dual) | ‘ayyu-humaa | أَيُّهُمَاْ |
| Which (of) us | ‘ayyu-naa | أَيُّنَاْ |
| Which (of) you (plu. masc.) | ‘ayyu-kum | أَيُّكُمْ |
| Which (of) you (plu. fem.) | ‘ayyu-kunn(a) | أَيُّكُنَّ |
| Which (of) them (plu. masc.) | ‘ayyu-hum | أَيُّهُمْ |
| Which (of) them (plu. fem.) | ‘ayyu-hunn(a) | أَيُّهُنَّ |
‘ayy(u) Meaning “Any”
The meaning of ‘ayy(u) can change to “any” in questions and in negative statements.
Examples:
هَلْ رَأَيْتَ أَيَّ بَطَّةٍ ؟
hal ra’ayt(a) ‘ayy(a) battat(in)
= is it that (you sing. masc.) saw which/any (of) a duck
Translation: did you see which duck?
have you seen which duck?
did you see any duck?
have you seen any duck?
لا ، لَمْ أَرَ أَيَّ بَطَّةٍ
laa lam ‘ara ‘ayy(a) battat(in)