leeyahay

The Irregular Verb of Having

Level 2

Leeyahay expresses ownership or a relationship. The possessed thing need not be with its owner.

How It Works

Present forms are leeyahay for I/he, leedahay for you singular/she, leenahay for we, leedihiin for you plural, and leeyihiin for they. Agreement follows the possessor.

Compare Waxaan leeyahay baabuur, “I own a car,” with Waxaan haystaa furahaaga, “I have your key with me.” Holding the key does not establish ownership. Subject focus selects leh for all persons: Cali ayaa leh gurigan.

Leeyahay has no progressive paradigm. Negative present forms are ma lihi for I, ma lihid for you singular, ma lihin for we, ma lihidin for you plural, and ma laha for third persons. Affirmative dependent clauses with a subject word retain ordinary present forms. The shared reduced subjunctive is lahayn. Optative forms require their separately established paradigm.

Examples (4)

  1. Waxaan leeyahay baabuur.

    I own a car.

    First-person ownership.

  2. Maryan waxay leedahay dukaan.

    Maryan owns a shop.

    Feminine subject agreement.

  3. Cali ayaa leh gurigan.

    It is Ali who owns this house.

    Focused subject selects leh.

  4. Waxaan haystaa furahaaga.

    I have your key with me.

    Shows the current-possession contrast.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

leeyahayLevel 2The Irregular Verb of Having

Learn This First

Recognize present subject agreement before reading the lexical possession verb leeyahay.