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sotabbaṁ

sotabba

adjective (neuter nominative singular sotabbaṁ); gerundive form of √su + i (√ śru 'hear')

1. worth hearing
2. to be heard
3. fit for listening to

Built from

• so — root · hear
  Pali stem of √su/śru; cognate with Sanskrit śru (to hear) and English shear (to perceive by cutting through sound).
• bba — ending · gerundive
  Suffix forming the gerundive: indicates what is fit for, worthy of, or to be done. Neuter nominative singular -m agrees with the subject of the clause.

Analysis. so-: variant stem of suta- (heard, sound); -bba: gerundive suffix indicating 'fit for, worthy of, to be' — the word marks something as an appropriate object of hearing or worthy of audition.

Etymology. From √su (Sanskrit √śru, 'hear'), cognate with English 'shear' (to cut sound, i.e. perceive), Greek akouō (hear), and Sanskrit śruti (what is heard, revelation). The gerundive suffix -bba (from -tavya, Sanskrit -tavya) marks obligation or fitness, literally 'to be done': sotabba = 'to-be-heard', 'worthy of hearing'.

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

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