Pronunciations

Definitions

• interj. An expression of endearment meaning 'I will take your place if you are to be sacrificed'.

Example Sentences

Languages of Origin

• Arabic / Judeo-Arabic

Etymology

• mdurayena: מדוורא יאנא or مدوّرة يانا mdūwra yāna, lit. 'turning I will'; in reference to the swinging of the sacrificial chicken (kapara) on Yom Kippur, during which one's sins are transferred to the chicken which is then sacrificed. This usage can be understood as meaning: 'I will take your place if you are to be sacrificed as a kapara' or 'I will be the one turning before death, instead of you, by taking your place'.

  
  

  hadiksifayena: האדיך סיפא יאנא or هاديك سيفة يانا/هذيك صيفة أنا hādik sīfa yāna, lit. 'that face me'; modifies "mdurayena" to mean together: 'turning I will, for that little face I will'.

Who Uses This

• North African: Jews with ancestry in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, or Egypt

Regions

• North America

Dictionaries

• None

Alternative Spellings

mdurayenna hadiksifayenna, mdurayena hadik sifa yena, mdurayena hadik sifa yenna, mdura yena hadik sifa yena, mdura yenna hadik sifa yenna, mdūwra yāna hādik sīfa yāna, mdura yana hadik sifa yana, mdurayana hadiksifayana