B-Hebrew: The Biblical Hebrew Forum

Isaac Fried wrote:There is also this
מַחֲלִיף = מה-חל-היא-ף, 'substitute, replacement'
as in
המורה המחליף, 'the substitute teacher'

Isaac Fried, Boston University

Yes, a mem prefixed just certainly means מה!

Jason writes

Yes, a mem prefixed just certainly means מה!

Correct, except that it is not only the M that is prefixed, but also the A. Also, it does not "mean", but is "is", as in
מעשה = מה-עשה
מעבר = מה עבר
מעטפה = מה-עטפה
מלקוֹח = מה-לקוֹח
מפתח = מה-פתח
and many many more.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

Isaac Fried wrote:Correct, except that it is not only the M that is prefixed, but also the A. Also, it does not "mean", but is "is", as in
מעשה = מה-עשה
מעבר = מה עבר
מעטפה = מה-עטפה
מלקוֹח = מה-לקוֹח
מפתח = מה-פתח
and many many more.

Perhaps מַ means אֵיפֹה. What do you think?

מָגוֹר is where someone dwells.
מַחֲבֹא is where someone hides.
מַחֲנֶה is where someone camps.
מַטְבֵּחַ is where someone slaughters an animal.

Your generalizations are stretches and don't fit the reality of the language.

The ma- prefix does not mean מַה, nor are all vowel infixes simply abbreviated personal pronouns. That is not how language works.

Jason says

Perhaps מַ means אֵיפֹה. What do you think?

I think, Jason, that you should look up the word אֵיפֹה in the תנ"ך to better understand what it means.

That is not how language works

Jason, I have no choice here but to fully agree with you as you are admittedly in possession of this remarkable and truly unique gift among mankind of knowing "how language works".

Isaac Fried, Boston University