# \*ʾVlVy-: 'howl' 1, 'woe!' 2

> Proto-Semitic *ʾVlVy-, 'howl' 1, 'woe!' 2: reflexes in 7 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 2026-10-28.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ʾVlVy- |
| Meaning | 'howl' 1, 'woe!' 2 |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aramaic | ʾLY (CAL s.v. ʾly) | CAL s.v. ʾly; Anderson–Moser 2024 root ʾly | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | ʾalah; ʾalǝlay (with lî) 2 (HALOT 57) | HALOT 57; Anderson–Moser 2024 root ʾly | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | ʾalla (HALOT 51) | HALOT 51 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | ʔelā 'to mourn, lament, howl' (Payne Smith 17) | Payne Smith 17 |  |
| Judaic Aramaic | ʾilyā (HALOT 51) | HALOT 51 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | ʾalle la-; ʾallelo, ʾalle lottu 2 (LGz. 17) | LGz. 17 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic ʾll 1 (Al-Jallad 2026, 6) | Al-Jallad 2026 6 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Hebrew ʾlh 'to wail' (Jl 1:8) is an Aramaic loan (Wagner 15 apud HALOT 51). HALOT 57 files ʾalǝlay 'woe!' (interj., onomatopoeic) under II ʾll 'wail', beside II ʾlh; LGz. 17 sets Geez ʾalle la- 'woe to!' with Arabic ʾalla 'moan', Aramaic ʾălā 'lament' and Syriac ʾeli 'mourning'.

## Linked from

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

---

Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/alef/K0581_howl_1_woe_2/
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.