perfect in meaning of pret. & pres. “he says or he said” he spoke, also spoke to somebody (w. acc.), as at Ja.i.197 (cullalohitaṃ āha). Usually in 3^rd person, very rarely used of 2^nd person, as at Snp.839, Snp.840 (= kathesi bhaṇasi Nd.188, Nd.191).

3^rd sg. āha Vin.ii.191; Snp.790 (= bhaṇati Mnd.87), Snp.888; Ja.i.280; Ja.iii.53 and freq. passim; 3^rd pl āhu Snp.87, Snp.181; Dhp.345; Ja.i.59; Snp-a.377, and āhaṃsu Ja.i.222; Ja.iii.278 and freq.

Vedic āha, orig. perfect of ah to speak, meaning “he began to speak”, thus in meaning of pres. “he says”