Key Words

Question 1

היכי דמי

Answer 1

What is the case

(Asking either an information or attack question about either how or what could be the situation of the case presented)

Question 2

בעי ר

Answer 2

R’ asked

(Some one asks a question seeking clarification)

Question 3

תיקו

Answer 3

Let it stand

(There is no current answer to the question)

Question 4

מהו

Answer 4

What is the law

( What is the law in this hypothetical situation)

Question 5

איתמר

Answer 5

It was stated

(Introduces an argument between two Amoraim)

Question 6

תא שמע

Answer 6

Come and learn

(Introduces a quote from a Tanaic source or earlier to prove an opinion correct)

Question 7

מאי טעמא

Answer 7

What is the reason

(What is the reason or halachic basis for a specific law or opinion)

Question 8

גופא

Answer 8

The matter itself

(Begins a new idea by quoting something that was said earlier in passing)

Question 9

בשלמא

Answer 9

It is good

(Presents a two part attack question, where the first part states waht makes sense and the second part is the question)

Question 10

תדע

Answer 10

Know

(Introduces a support to what was just said based on logic)

Question 11

אי הכי

Answer 11

If so

(If what was just said abov is true, then the following difficulty arises)

Question 12

הא גופא קשיא

Answer 12

The matter itelf is a difficulty

(Points out an internal contradiction between two parts of the same Tannaic teaching)

Question 13

מכדי

Answer 13

Since that

(Introduces a question based on previous information, that is assumed to be correct)

Question 14

מאי איריא

Answer 14

What kind of choice is this

(Why did you choose this case when there was a better case that you should have used)

Question 15

הכא במאי עסקינן

Answer 15

Here what are we dealing with

(A rhetorical question introducing details to a case that was under attack)

Question 16

לא שנו אלא

Answer 16

It was not taught except

(Limits the situation for the law that was just discussed)

Question 17

תיובתא

Answer 17

Refutes

(If listed once then the Gemara will answer the question. If listed twice, then the indiviual has no answer.)

Question 18

אזדא לטעמיה

Answer 18

Goes according to his reasoning

(Quotes another case showing how a Tanna or Amora is consistent with his line of reasoning)

Question 19

‘אמר לך

Answer 19

R’ would say to you

(A potential answer that a Tanna or Amora could have given had he been asked the above challenge against him)

Question 20

רמינהו

Answer 20

Contradiction

(Introduces a contradiction, by quoting something of an equal source that contradicts what was just said)

Question 21

ותו

Answer 21

And furthermore

(Introduces a second question, following a previous question)

Question 22

איבעית אימא

Answer 22

If you want I could say

(Introduces an additional pottential answer to an inquiry or objection)

Question 23

הוה אמינא

Answer 23

I would have said

(I would have tried and said the following, which is wrong, if not for the above teaching or pasuk)

Question 24

תניא נמי הכי

Answer 24

This was also taught in a Bariassa

(The gemara quotes a Bariassa to support a teaching of an Amora)

Question 25

תנו רבנן

Answer 25

The Rabbis taught

(Introduces a new Baraissa, that is not directly connected to the previous topic)

Question 26

הכי קאמר

Answer 26

This is what he meant to say

(Reinterprets what was just said because of a difficulty raised with the original understanding)

Question 27

איכא דאמרי

Answer 27

There are those that say

(Introducing a variation of waht was just said.

Make sure you can identify the change!)

Question 28

אימא סיפא

Answer 28

I will say the last case

(Quoting the second half of a statement, which creates a difficulty with what you just concluded)

Question 29

קא משמע לן

Answer 29

It teaches us

(Concludes an answer that explains what new idea was taught from the source that otherwise would have not been understood)

Question 30

אטו

Answer 30

Do you think? / Because of …

(At the start of a question it is rhetorical, asking “Do you think?”. In the middle of a question it is asking is this the reason for the above)

Question 31

פשיטא

Answer 31

Simple

(Asking a question of why something was needed to be taught as it was an obvious ruling)

Question 32

אלא אמר

Answer 32

Rather he said

(The above objection stands and therefore a new answer is presented for an earlier question)

Question 33

ליתני

Answer 33

He should have taught

(Asks that if your explanation of the Tanna would be true, then the Tanna should have taught his case as follows)

Question 34

אי נמי

Answer 34

Or else

(Presents another answer or supposrt similar to the one above. Both can be true at the same time)

Question 35

למה לי

Answer 35

Why is it needed

(Why are all of these cases or details needed, when one would have been enough)