# \*ṯūm- 'garlic (Allium sativum)'

A Proto-Semitic root the Linear A Lexicon's readings rest on.

- Author's gloss: garlic
- Record: https://github.com/plasma-ai/kaphtor/blob/50525edd50131a50e59ec82bf5132da0fa89efc9/wiki/semitic-roots/%E1%B9%AF/S34_garlic_Allium_sativum.md

## In Linear A

- [ZU](<https://linear-a.ai/lexicon/ZU/index.md>) (ṯūm): garlic (logographic abbreviation)

## Notes

Biconsonantal root *ṯ-m with long ū (possibly < *ṯawm- via monophthongization, yielding triconsonantal *ṯ-w-m). Regular interdental reflexes: Arabic preserves *ṯ; Hebrew/Akkadian *ṯ > š; Aramaic *ṯ > t. The Hebrew attestation (Num 11:5) lists garlic among the foods of Egypt remembered in the wilderness.

## Reflexes: East Semitic

- Akkadian: šūmu (CAD Š/3 298; AHw. 1275) (gloss withheld)
- Eblaitic: šu-mi (MEE 3, 61v. iv 6; Kogan 2012: 248 apud SEDonline 475) (gloss withheld)

## Reflexes: Northwest Semitic

- Hebrew: šūm (שׁוּם) (HALOT 1442; Num 11:5 haššūmīm) (gloss withheld)
- Judaic Aramaic: tūmā (תּוּמָא) "garlic" (Ja. 1654)
- Syrian Aramaic: tūmā "garlic" (Brock. 819)
- Aramaic: Sml. šmy (HALOT 1442); šūm (LGz. 501) (gloss withheld)
- Mandaic Aramaic: tum (HALOT 1442) (gloss withheld)

## Reflexes: Arabic

- Arabic: ṯūm (ثوم) "garlic" (BK 1, 279; Lane 365)

## Reflexes: Ethiopic and Modern South Arabian

- Mehri: ṯəmēt (Kogan 2011, 203) (gloss withheld)
- Jibbali: ṯuhm (Kogan 2011, 203) (gloss withheld)
- Geez: sum (LGz. 501) (gloss withheld)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/roots/S34/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit 50525edd.