# \*ʕapar-: 'dust, soil'

> Proto-Semitic *ʕapar-, 'dust, soil': 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>) › [ʿ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ʕapar- |
| Meaning | 'dust, soil' |
| Basis | SED |
| SED | SEDonline semet 1131 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | ʕafar-, ʕafr- 'earth, dust'; ʕufrat- 'grayish dust color', ʔaʕfar- 'reddish, mixed; reddish sand' BK 2 298 | BK 2 298 |  |
| Mehri | ʔafur; ʕōfer |  | gloss withheld |
| Soqotri | ʕafer |  | gloss withheld |
| Akkadian | ep(e)r- CAD E 184 | CAD E 184 | gloss withheld |
| Harsusi | ʔāfor, ʔafer |  | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | ʕäfär LH 492 | LH 492 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | ʕpr |  |  |
| Phoenician | ʿpr (Krahmalkov 384) | Krahmalkov 384 | gloss withheld |
| Jibbali | ʕɔ́fɔ́r, ʕafor (Kogan 2015, ch. 8 §3.1.2 no. 14); ʕofer | Kogan 2015 ch. 8 §3.1.2 no. 14 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | ʕapār; ʔēper (HALOT 80) | HALOT 80 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | ʕapr- (Payne Smith 422) | Payne Smith 422 |  |
| Geez | ʾafar (LGz. 10) | LGz. 10 | gloss withheld |
| Gurage | afär | SEDonline semet 3002 | gloss withheld |
| Amharic | afär (LGz. 10) | LGz. 10 | gloss withheld |
| Harari | afär | SEDonline semet 3002 | gloss withheld |
| Gafat | afarä | SEDonline semet 3002 | gloss withheld |
| Argobba | afär | SEDonline semet 3002 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | ʿpr (Aramaic Root Atlas; DNWSI 879) | Aramaic Root Atlas; DNWSI 879; Anderson–Moser 2024 root ʿpr | gloss withheld |
| Punic | ʿpr 'dirt' | Anderson–Moser 2024 root ʿpr |  |
| Judaic Aramaic | ʿpr (HALOT 861; DJPA 414b apud CAL) | HALOT 861; DJPA 414b; CAL |  |
| Mandaic Aramaic | ʿfr (HALOT 861) | HALOT 861 |  |
| Canaanite | EA ḫa-pa-ru, a-pa-ru (Kogan 2011, 189); EA up-ri /ʕupr/ (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 85) | Kogan 2011 189; Sanmartín GlOS 1, 85 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Initial ayin is explicit in Hebrew עפר (ʿpr). Dillmann (LLA 808) considers Geʿez ʾafar an Amharic loanword, unless it goes with Hebrew ʾēper (LGz. 10). See HALOT 80. Hebrew ʔēper is a loan from Akkadian epru (HALOT 80).

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/ayin/1094_dust_soil/
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.