# \*ma(h): 'what?' 1, 'lest' 2

> Proto-Semitic *ma(h), 'what?' 1, 'lest' 2: 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>) › [M](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/m/index.md>). Updated 2026-11-03.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ma(h) |
| Meaning | 'what?' 1, 'lest' 2 |
| Basis | reconstruction SED; meaning SED, corrected |
| SED | SEDonline semet 3094 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | mā (Kogan 2015, ch. 3 §5.1 no. 6) | Kogan 2015 ch. 3 §5.1 no. 6 |  |
| Soqotri | mī | JM 150: -(ǝ)n an obsolete marker of oblique case - in Mhr! | gloss withheld |
| Akkadian | mā |  | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | mi, mǝ |  |  |
| Mandaic Aramaic | mahu (MD 237) | MD 237 |  |
| Ugaritic | mh |  |  |
| Geez | mi |  |  |
| Gurage | mǝ- in mǝ-ḳar LGz 323 | LGz 323 | gloss withheld |
| Biblical Aramaic | mā |  |  |
| Phoenician | m; lm 2 (Krahmalkov 256) | Krahmalkov 256 | gloss withheld |
| Modern Aramaic | Urm mū(-dī) |  |  |
| Hebrew | mā (Kogan 2015, ch. 3 §5.1 no. 6) | Kogan 2015 ch. 3 §5.1 no. 6 |  |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | m; Sab mhn (Biella 267) | Biella 267 | gloss withheld |
| Aramaic | Pal mh (DJPA 292b apud CAL) | DJPA 292b; CAL |  |
| Amorite | ma-a (OLA80 §36.58); mah: ma-a-la-na-di-ta-na, ma-a-ra-su-um (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 24) | OLA80 §36.58; Sanmartín GlOS 2, 24 | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | JBA mān (DJBA 637 apud SEDonline 121) | DJBA 637; SEDonline 121 | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | mānā (LSyr. 393, SL 778 apud SEDonline 121) | LSyr. 393, SL 778; SEDonline 121 | gloss withheld |
| Eblaitic | /mah/: cf. names ma-ʔà, ma-ʔà-ma-lik (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 24) | Sanmartín GlOS 2, 24 | gloss withheld |
| Punic | N.Pu. mʾ (rel. pr.) (T 163); mu (Krahmalkov 265) | T 163; Krahmalkov 265 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Krahmalkov 256 compares Aramaic lᵉmā with Phoenician lm 'lest' 2; Aramaic lᵉmā is l- + mā.

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/m/2560_what_q_1_lest_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.