Key

Question 1

היכי דמי

Answer 1

what is the case

(Questioning the above case’s situation, trying to figure out how the case could be true.)

Question 2

בעי ר

Answer 2

R. asked / required

(When preceed with a name it means he is asking a “What if” type of question)

Question 3

תיקו

Answer 3

let it stand

(A conclusion at the end of an inquiry question, saying the issue will not be resolved unitl Eliyahu comes)

Question 4

מהו

Answer 4

what is the law

(An introduction or conclusion to a question in a hypothetical case)

Question 5

איתמר

Answer 5

It was stated

(Introduces a dispute between two Amoraim)

Question 6

תא שמע

Answer 6

Come and learn

(Introduces a Tanaic or Biblical source as a proof or refute to a teaching)

Question 7

מאי טעמא

Answer 7

What is the reason

(Asking for the reason for a particular law or opinion)

Question 8

בשלמא

Answer 8

It is good

(Introduces a two part attack question. After בשלמא is what makes sense and after אלא is the case that is a problem)

Question 9

תדע

Answer 9

Know

(Support to an above teaching through the use of logic)

Question 10

אי הכי

Answer 10

If so

(If what you just said is true, then the following difficulty is created)

Question 11

גופא

Answer 11

The matter itself

(Introduces a previously quoted Mishna or Baraissa that the Gemara is now going to discuss in more detail)

Question 12

הא גופא קשיא

Answer 12

The matter itself is a difficulty

(Introduces an implied contradiction between two parts of the same Tannaic source)

Question 13

מכדי

Answer 13

Since that

(Accepting what was just said to be true, a new difficulty arisses)

Question 14

הכי קאמר

Answer 14

This is what he meant to say

(Presents a variation of waht was previously said because of a difficulty raised on the initial statement.)

Question 15

תנו רבמן

Answer 15

The Rabbis taught

(Introduces a Baraissa.)

Question 16

איכא דאמרי

Answer 16

There are those that say

(Presents a variation of what was said above.

Difference could be:

a) Who made the statement
b) The order the information was presented
c) A slight change with what was said resulting in a different halachik outcome

Question 17

רמינהו

Answer 17

Contradiciton

(Raises a difficulty with what was jkust said by quoting an equal source that states the opposite.)

Question 18

איבעית אימא

Answer 18

If you want I could say

(Presents an alternative answer.)

Question 19

שאני

Answer 19

Different

Question 20

ותו

Answer 20

And furthermore

(Introduces an additional question)

Question 21

מאי איריא

Answer 21

What kind of choice is this

(Introduces a question of why a case was chosen when it seems to limit the scope of the halacha unnecessarily)

Question 22

שמע מינה

Answer 22

Learn from here

(Either introduces a deduction rom an above teaching or concludes a deduction just said)

Question 23

תניא נמי הכי

Answer 23

This was also taught in a Baraissa

(Quotes a Baraissa to support what was just said above)

Question 24

אימא סיפא

Answer 24

I will say the last case

(The Gemara quotes the second half of a Tanaic source to contradict what was concluded from the first half)

Question 25

לא שנו אלא

Answer 25

It was not taught except

(Comes to limit the case of the halacha stated in a Mishna)

Question 26

הוה אמינא

Answer 26

I would have said

(Introduces what one have incorrectly have said if not for the following teaching)

Question 27

מאי בינייהו

Answer 27

What is the difference

(What is the practical, halachik difference between the two opinions)

Question 28

מאי נפקא מינה

Answer 28

What is the practical difference?

(What practical difference does this law or teaching make?)

Question 29

אזדא לטעמיה

Answer 29

Goes according to his reasoning

(Introduces a case or statement showing that the above person is consistent with his logic that is used above)

Question 30

קא משמע לן

Answer 30

It teaches us

(It conlcudes an answer as to what new idea someone or something is teaching)

Question 31

אטו

Answer 31

because of / do you think … ?!

(It is used to ask a question)

Question 32

ליתני

Answer 32

It should have taught

(Asks, saying that if what your understanding is correct, then the Tanaic source should have been written as follows)

Question 33

למה לי

Answer 33

Why do I need

(After listing a number of ideas or items, the Gemara asked why were all of the things necessary to be taught when only one would have been enough)

Question 34

אידך

Answer 34

The other opinion

(The gemara asks what the other opinion is when the is a back and foth dispute)

Question 35

תנאי

Answer 35

It is an argument between Tanaim

(This that is being argued is an argument between Tanaim)

Question 36

‘אמר לך ר

Answer 36

R’ would say to you

(Introduces an answer that the Tanna or Amora might have given to the above question, had he been asked.)

Question 37

אמר מר

Answer 37

It was said before

(Quotes something that was said earlier in passing, so it can be discussed now in more detail)

Question 38

אם תמצא לומר

Answer 38

If you find to say

(After posing a question, the Gemara continues and says if you would want to answer it this way then a new set of questions arise)

Question 39

אלא אמר

Answer 39

Rther he said

(After an answer has been rejected, an Amora gives a new answer)

Question 40

אי נמי

Answer 40

Or else

(Presents another of whatever was just said)