qina

Qina is a term that may refer to several topics depending on language and context. In Hebrew, qina (often transliterated as qinah) means lament or dirge. It is the root of the word for a specific kind of liturgical poetry and is used to describe solitary laments as well as the traditional composers of elegies. The plural kinot (qinnot in some transliterations) denotes collections of elegies recited during the Nine Days and on Tisha B’Av, reflecting historical calamities in Jewish history.

Beyond linguistics, qina can appear as a place name or personal name in various regions, where transliteration from non-Latin scripts yields similar spellings. Because transliteration varies, qina may also appear as kinah, kinot, qinnah, or similar variants in different sources.

Because of its multiplicity of uses, a precise meaning of qina depends on context, including language, geography, and historical period. If you had a particular qina in mind—a location, a person, or a literary concept—more context would help identify the correct reference.