# \*sabʾ-: 'man'

> Proto-Semitic *sabʾ-, 'man': 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>) › [S](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/s/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*sabʾ- |
| Meaning | 'man' |
| Basis | SED |
| SED | SEDonline semet 3168 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Ethiopic | Wol. säb |  |  |
| Gurage | Cha. säb |  |  |
| Harari | usuʔ&lt;\*-subʔ |  |  |
| Gafat | säwwä (Kogan 2015, ch. 7 §2.5 no. 51) | Kogan 2015 ch. 7 §2.5 no. 51 |  |
| Argobba | su, säw |  |  |
| Tigrinya | säbʔay (Kogan 2015, ch. 7 §2.5 no. 51) | Kogan 2015 ch. 7 §2.5 no. 51 |  |
| Geez | sabʾ (OLA80 §11.5) | OLA80 §11.5 | gloss withheld |
| Amharic | säw (OLA80 §11.5) | OLA80 §11.5 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | säbʾ (Kogan 2011, 233) | Kogan 2011 233 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Mehri habū 'people', compared here in LGz. 482, belongs to 3416 \*ʾib-V 'people': hā- is the definite article (Kogan 2015, ch. 7 §2.5 no. 51).

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/s/2633_man/
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.