somhi

sandhi contraction: so + amhi

now I am

Built from

so — root · now, this moment
Demonstrative adverb pointing to the present. Cognate to Sanskrit sa- and Latin sic (thus).
amhi — root · I am
1st person singular present of atthi (to be). From PIE *h₁es-; cognates: English is, Latin esse, Sanskrit asmi. Athematic present, keeping ancient form.

Analysis. so (now, at this moment) + amhi (I am, present tense of atthi). A colloquial contraction joining a temporal adverb with the copula, common in narrative and dialogue.

Etymology. amhi descends from PIE *h₁es- (to be), which yields English is, Latin esse, Sanskrit asmi. The root appears bare in the present tense without thematic vowel, a mark of archaism. so (now, this) is demonstrative, akin to Sanskrit sa- and related to the root of Latin sic (thus, so).

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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