# \*ʾarbaʕ-: 'four'

> Proto-Semitic *ʾarbaʕ-, 'four': reflexes in 22 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [ʾ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/alef/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ʾarbaʕ- |
| Meaning | 'four' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mehri | ǝrbōt; árba (Rubin 2018 295, 297); rība (Rubin 2018 300) | Rubin 2018 295, 297; Rubin 2018 300 | gloss withheld |
| Akkadian | erbe (Huehnergard 1997 GAk, 494); erbā, arbā (CAD E 255) | Huehnergard 1997 GAk, 494; CAD E 255 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | arbʕ (DULAT 92) | DULAT 92 | gloss withheld |
| Phoenician | ʾrbʿ (Krahmalkov 70); rbʿ (Krahmalkov 441) | Krahmalkov 70; Krahmalkov 441 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | ʾarbaʿ (BDB 916); ʾarbāʿîm (HALOT 83); rbʕ (DNWSI 1055) | BDB 916; HALOT 83; DNWSI 1055 | gloss withheld |
| Biblical Aramaic | ʾarbaʿ (BDB 1112; CAL s.v. ʾrbʿ) | BDB 1112; CAL s.v. ʾrbʿ | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | ʾarbaʕ- (QAC root rbʕ; Qurʾān 2:226 ʾarbaʕati ʾašhurin); Stem II rabbaʕa, Stem V tarabbaʕa, tarabbaʕa ʕalā l-ʕarši (OLA80 §35.34); rabaʕa (Lane 1015), denominative from rbʕ n. (Biella 477); ʾarbaʿūna (Lane 1020) | QAC root rbʕ; OLA80 §35.34; Lane 1015; Biella 477; Lane 1020 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | ʾarbāʕ, ʾarbāʕtu (Dillmann 02183, 02184); ʾarbəʿā (LGz. 460) | Dillmann 02183, 02184; LGz. 460 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab rbʿ, cardinal (SD 113, 114; Biella 477; Sabaweb lemma 1475); ʾrbʿy (SD 113); Qat. ʔrbʕ (Ricks 1982 s.v. ʔrbʕ) | SD 113, 114; Biella 477; Sabaweb lemma 1475; SD 113; Ricks 1982 s.v. ʔrbʕ | gloss withheld |
| Punic | ʾrbʿy (HALOT 1179); N.Pu. lʾrbtnm; ʾrbʿm, N.Pu. ʾrbʿm, ʿrbm (T 28); rbʿ (T 301) | HALOT 1179; T 28; T 301 | gloss withheld |
| Soqotri | ʾerbaʿah (LGz. 460); arbaˁín (CSOL II 392 apud SEDonline 854) | LGz. 460; SEDonline 854 | gloss withheld |
| Tigrinya | ʾarbaʿte (LGz. 460) | LGz. 460 |  |
| Gafat | arbattä (LGz. 460) | LGz. 460 |  |
| Argobba | arbit (LGz. 460) | LGz. 460 |  |
| Gurage | arbät (LGz. 460) | LGz. 460 |  |
| Amharic | arat (LGz. 460) | LGz. 460 |  |
| Harari | ḥarat (LGz. 460) | LGz. 460 |  |
| Syrian Aramaic | ʔarbaʕ 'four' (Payne Smith 27); ʾarbʿīn 'forty' (Payne Smith 27) | Payne Smith 27 |  |
| East Ethiopic | Sel. Wol. arat, Zwy. arət (EDG 92 apud SEDonline 854) | EDG 92; SEDonline 854 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | ˀarbaˁ (WTS 153 apud SEDonline 854) | WTS 153; SEDonline 854 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | rbʕ, rbwʕ (DNWSI 1055); rbʕ (DNWSI 1057); rbʕyn (DNWSI 1057) | DNWSI 1055; DNWSI 1057 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic ʾrbʿ; ʾrbʿt (Al-Jallad–Jaworska 46) | Al-Jallad–Jaworska 46 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Notes

OLA80 §35.9: Semitic rbaʿ- 'four' is independent of the Afro-Asiatic words for four (Libyco-Berber kkuẓ, Egyptian fdw, Bedja fāḍig, Hausa fuʾdu). OLA80 §35.34 derives the Arabic Stem II and V verbs from the numeral. HALOT 83, LGz. 460 and SEDonline 854 file 'forty' under the numeral.

## Linked from

- [ʾ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/alef/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/alef/2913_four/
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 add28e94.