guai Italian · revision 38128

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1224|origins=got 𐍅𐌰𐌹}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈɡwa.i/^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|got|𐍅𐌰𐌹|tr=wai|t=woe!]] crossed with [[la|vae|t=alas, woe]], according to Devoto–Oli, Sabatini–Coletti, Devoto and the GDLI;^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto 1968)^(GDLI|7, 93)^(REW 1935) Meyer-Lübke likewise lists it under the Gothic word, with [[es|guay]] and [[pt|guai]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto 1968)^(GDLI|7, 93)^(REW 1935) Devoto explains the initial ⟨gu⟩ by the normal treatment of Germanic /w/ in Gothic and Lombardic loans.^(Devoto 1968)

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+ GRADIT, Zingarelli and Gabrielli derive it instead from [[frk|*wai]], GRADIT through [[fro|guai]], and DEI prefers this route too, but does not rule out Gothic; in either case the Germanic forms were laid over the Latin word.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(DEI|1880) Nocentini sees a convergence: the Latin exclamation, inherited from Indo-European, was used by Jerome in the Vulgate for [[grc|οὐαί|tr=ouaí|t=woe!]], a Greek rendering of a Hebrew cry, while Wulfila used the Gothic word in his New Testament.^(Nocentini 2010) The word owes its success to the Bible, above all to the woes Jesus pronounces on the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23; [[ro|vai]], in his view, comes directly from Greek.^(Nocentini 2010)

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+ De Vaan reconstructs a [[itc-pro|*wai]] for the Latin word and lists [[cy|gwae]], [[ang|wā]] and [[goh|wē]] beside it, but thinks these are probably independent imitative cries, though a common inheritance cannot be excluded.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT and Zingarelli date the first record to about 1224; the GDLI's first quotation is from Saint Francis of Assisi: “Guai a quilli che se trovarà ne le peccata mortali” (woe to those who will be found in mortal sin).^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GDLI|7, 93) It expressed a threat of punishment or misfortune.^(GDLI|7, 93)^(Nocentini 2010)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Dante's ''Inferno'' an old boatman cries to the damned “Guai a voi, anime prave!” (woe to you, wicked souls!).^(GDLI|7, 93)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Old texts also used ''guai'' alone, without a person, as a cry of grief like ''ahimè'', a sense now archaic.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) In modern Italian the threat is often weakened to a warning about the unpleasant result of an action, with ''a'' and an infinitive or ''se'' and a clause.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

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+ The Latin ''vae victis'' is rendered ''guai ai vinti'' (woe to the vanquished).^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011) The noun ''guaio'', “trouble”, was drawn from the interjection taken as a plural, and gave in turn ''inguaiare'' (1950).^(Nocentini 2010)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1224 – First record, in Saint Francis of Assisi.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GDLI|7, 93)

+ * 13th century – The noun ''guaio'' is drawn from the interjection.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1950 – ''Inguaiare'' is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|woe]] (to), a threat of punishment or trouble, usually with ''a'': ''Guai a te se tocchi la mia bicicletta!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # In a weaker sense, a warning that something must not be done: ''Guai a nominargli la sua ex moglie!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(archaic)'' [[m|en|alas]], a cry of grief.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[guaio]]

+ * [[inguaiare]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|vae]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Guai'' is also the plural of the noun ''guaio'' “trouble, mess”, which Nocentini derives from the interjection.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Wikizionario)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}