saw-şaw ese da

/saw-ʃaw ese da/

Literal translation

whether he be alive-or-so

Used of a person whose fate is unknown, when there is no word of whether they have survived or perished.

Frontdan qağıt joqdu. Saw-şaw esele da, jaşlanı haparların bilmeyme, – dep, jarsıydı anaları.There is no letter from the front. Whether they are alive or dead, I have no news of the boys, — so their mother frets.

Show sources