# \*ḥVlVy-: 'sweet' 1, 'sing, chant' 2, 'gift' 3

> Proto-Semitic *ḥVlVy-, 'sweet' 1, 'sing, chant' 2, 'gift' 3: reflexes in 9 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>) › [ḥ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/het/index.md>). Updated 2026-11-04.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ḥVlVy- |
| Meaning | 'sweet' 1, 'sing, chant' 2, 'gift' 3 |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geez | ḥalaya 'sing' 2 | Anderson–Moser 2024 root ḥly |  |
| Arabic | ḥalā (ḥlw) 1, ḥaliya 1 (LGz. 231); ḥulwān 3 (Lane 634) | LGz. 231; Lane 634 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab ḥly 3 (Biella 176) | Biella 176 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | ḥălī, ḥălā 1 (LGz. 231) | LGz. 231 |  |
| Syrian Aramaic | ḥəlī 1 (LGz. 231) | LGz. 231 |  |
| Mandaic Aramaic | hla 1 (LGz. 231) | LGz. 231 |  |
| Tigrinya | ḥaläyä 2 (LGz. 231) | LGz. 231 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | ḥalā 2 (Wb. 56b; HALOT 317) | Wb. 56b; HALOT 317 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | מָחֲלַת 2 (HALOT 570) | HALOT 570 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Based on biconsonantal \*ḥal-. Biella 176 compares Sab ḥly 'gift' with Arabic ḥalā. Geez ḥəlyān 'bribe, gratuity' is from Arabic ḥulwān (LGz. 231). 3727 \*ḥlʾ 'to pay (money); to pay a fine' is another root.

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/het/K0727_sweet_1_sing_chant_2_gift_3/
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.