# \*ḏVbVb-: 'fly' (n.)

> Proto-Semitic *ḏVbVb-, 'fly' (n.): reflexes in 19 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>) › [ḏ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/dhal/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ḏVbVb- |
| Meaning | 'fly' (n.) |
| Basis | SED |
| SED | SEDonline semet 235 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | ḏubāb- 'fly; bee' \[BK 1 762\], \[Fr. II 79\], \[Lane 952\], \[LA I 382\]. | BK 1 762; Fr. II 79; Lane 952; LA I 382 |  |
| Hebrew | zǝbūb (HALOT 261), pB. \[Ja. 378\] | HALOT 261; Ja. 378 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | dabbābā, debbābā 'fly', dabbābītā 'gadfly' \[Brock. 138\], \[PS 805\] (also debbā 'fly'). | Brock. 138; PS 805 |  |
| Judaic Aramaic | dībābā 'fly' \[Ja. 294\], \[Levy WTM I 371\], 'fly, horsefly' \[Levy WT I 159\]. | Ja. 294; Levy WTM I 371; Levy WT I 159 |  |
| Mehri | ḏǝbbēt \[JM 79\]. | JM 79 | gloss withheld |
| Soqotri | ʔedbíboh \[LS 121\]. | LS 121 |  |
| Akkadian | zumbu (zubbu, zunbu) OB on \[CAD z 154\], \[AHw. 1535-6\] | CAD z 154; AHw. 1535-6 | gloss withheld |
| Harsusi | ḏebbēt \[JH 27\]. | JH 27 |  |
| Eblaitic | za-ba-bù-um = NINza-bux(NI) \[MEE IV 368\].; za-ba-bù-um /ḏab(a)b/ (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 159); šè-bù /ḏibbum/ (= Sum. bir₅) (VE 1098; Bonechi 2008, 16 and n. 75) | MEE IV 368; Sanmartín GlOS 1, 159; VE 1098; Bonechi 2008, 16 and n. 75 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | zǝnb \[LGz. 640\]. | LGz. 640 | gloss withheld |
| Gurage | (all dialects) zǝmb \[LGur. 708\]. | LGur. 708 | gloss withheld |
| Jibbali | ḏǝbbɔ́t \[JJ 45\]. | JJ 45 |  |
| Amharic | zǝmb, zǝnb \[K 1616\]. | K 1616 | gloss withheld |
| Harari | zǝmbi \[LHar. 166\]. | LHar. 166 | gloss withheld |
| Gafat | zǝmbä \[LGaf. 249\]. | LGaf. 249 | gloss withheld |
| Argobba | zǝmb \[LArg. 227\] | LArg. 227 |  |
| Tigrinya | zǝnbi 'fly' \[Bass. 735\]. | Bass. 735 |  |
| Modern Aramaic | Maʕl. ḏappōpa, Mlḥ. dedve, Krd. didwa, NSyr. didwâ, JNA dɨdwā, dɨdūṯa, Tlk. dɨdwa, Ass. dɨdwa, Tur. didwōno (SED II 109) | SED II 109 |  |
| Amorite | ḏab(a)b, ḏubāb: za-ab-bu-um, za-ba-bu-um, du-ba-bu-um, zu-ba-bu-um (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 159) | Sanmartín GlOS 1, 159 | gloss withheld |

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

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/dhal/282_fly_n/
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.