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tañhi

ta

pronoun + particle; sandhi form of taṃ + hi

1. ta (pron): that
2. ta (letter): (gram) letter t; 24th letter of the alphabet; dental sibilant
3. tañhi (sandhi): that truly; that most certainly; that indeed
4. taṃ (pron): it; that
5. taṃ (pron): him; her; one; that person; that thing
6. taṃ (pron): you (object)
7. tumha (pron): you
8. tvaṃ (pron): you (subject)

Built from

• taṃ — root · that
  Accusative singular of the demonstrative pronoun ta, from Indo-European *to-. Points to a definite person or thing.
• hi — prefix · truly, indeed
  Enclitic emphatic particle (cognate Sanskrit ha, Greek -ge) that strengthens assertion. Often attached to pronouns, verbs, or nouns to assert the reality or certainty of what precedes it.

Analysis. taṃ (accusative singular of ta 'that') + hi (emphatic particle 'truly, indeed'); the final -ṃ of taṃ elides before the initial h- of hi, yielding tañhi. The particle hi reinforces the pronoun with emphatic force, common in narrative and doctrinal contexts to assert that a thing or teaching is genuinely what it is.

Etymology. ta descends from Indo-European *to- (compare English 'that', German 'das', Latin 'iste'). The particle hi is an old enclitic emphasizer, akin to Sanskrit ha and Greek -ge, reinforcing what precedes it with the sense 'truly, verily'.

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

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