# \*matay: 'when?' (interrogative adverb)

> Proto-Semitic *matay, 'when?' (interrogative adverb): reflexes in 6 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 2026-10-31.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*matay |
| Meaning | 'when?' (interrogative adverb) |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Qat. mty (Ricks 1982 s.v. mty) | Ricks 1982 s.v. mty | gloss withheld |
| Mehri | mayt (Rubin 2018 312, 319) | Rubin 2018 312, 319 | gloss withheld |
| Akkadian | mati; immati (CAD M/1 406) | CAD M/1 406 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | mātay; ʿad-mātay (HALOT 654) | HALOT 654 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | matā 'when?'; ḥattā matā 'until when? how long?' (Lane 3017) | Lane 3017 |  |
| Phoenician | mtm (T 205) | T 205 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Huehnergard 2019, 67 reconstructs \*mataj. HALOT 654 adds EA matīma, Ph. mtm, OSArb. mt and Akk. immati &lt; in(a) mati. Not S73 \*ʾid 'when; then' nor 2504 \*mtt/y 'spread'. 2560 \*ma(h) 'what?' carries Soqotri mī 'when?'.

## 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/3794_when_q_interrogative_adverb/
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 50525edd.