# \*ŝyb {} \*ĉyb: 'to have grey hair'

> Proto-Semitic *ŝyb {} *ĉyb, 'to have grey hair': reflexes in 23 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>) › [ś](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/sin/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ŝyb {} \*ĉyb |
| Meaning | 'to have grey hair' |
| Basis | SED |
| SED | SEDonline semet 2301 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | šyb 'to whiten, to become white, hoary', šayb-at- 'hoariness, white hair' \[BK 1 1294\] | BK 1 1294 |  |
| Mehri | ŝyīb, ŝayb \[JM 391\] | JM 391 | gloss withheld |
| Soqotri | ŝíbab (ŝaibib) \[LS 428\]. | LS 428 | gloss withheld |
| Akkadian | šībtu Mari, SB \[CAD š2 386\], \[AHw 1228\], šâbu OA, OB on \[CAD š1 19\], \[AHw 1224\], šību OB on \[CAD š2 389\], \[AHw 1228\], šību OAkk on \[CAD š2 390\], \[AHw 1228\] | CAD š2 386; AHw 1228; CAD š1 19; AHw 1224; CAD š2 389; CAD š2 390 | gloss withheld |
| Harsusi | ŝayb \[JH 123\] | JH 123 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | šäyäbä, šib, šibät \[LH 227\] | LH 227 | gloss withheld |
| Mandaic Aramaic | SAB, SIB \[DM 308\], saba, sibato \[ibid. 324\] | DM 308; DM 324 | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | šb, šbt \[Aist 300\] | Aist 300 | gloss withheld |
| East Ethiopic | SEL šēbätä, WOL šebätä, ZWY šībätä, SEL WOL ZWY šǝbät \[LGur 572\] | LGur 572 | gloss withheld |
| Harari | šibät \[LHar 144\] | LHar 144 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | ŝeba, ŝibat \[LGz 539\] | LGz 539 | gloss withheld |
| Gurage | MUH MSQ šäbbätä, SOD šibbätä, CHA EZHA MUH MSQ GOG SOD šǝbät \[LGur 572\] | LGur 572 | gloss withheld |
| Jibbali | eŝŝéb, ŝub \[JJ 259\] | JJ 259 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | ŝyb, ŝēb, ŝēbā (HALOT 1318; BDB 966) | HALOT 1318; BDB 966 | gloss withheld |
| Amharic | šǝbät \[K 638\] | K 638 | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | sǝʔēb, sā(ʔ)b 'to be old' \[Ja 947\], sāb(ā) 'grey, old', sīb 'to be grey, old' \[ibid. 948\], sīb 'grey, old', sēb 'to be old', sēbā 'old age' \[ibid. 974\]; sēbǝtā 'grey color, grey hair; eldership' \[ibid. 975\] | Ja 947; Ja 948; Ja 974; Ja 975 |  |
| Syrian Aramaic | sābā 'old man', sābǝtā 'old woman', saybātā (pl.) 'white hair' \[Brock 469\] | Brock 469 |  |
| Aramaic | OFF šb \[HJ 1099\], PLM sybw \[ibid. 784\]; SʾB (Qumran 246 apud CAL) | HJ 1099; HJ 784; CAL; Anderson–Moser 2024 root śʾb | gloss withheld |
| Biblical Aramaic | ŝābē (pl. constr.), ŝābayyā (det.) 'grey-head; elder' (BDB 1114) | BDB 1114 |  |
| Tigrinya | säyyäbä, šäyyäbä 'to turn grey(-haired)', šǝbät 'greying (of hair)' \[Bass 237\] | Bass 237 |  |
| Eblaitic | si-bù-um /šībum/ (VE 108), /Siyb, Siybt, Siybat/ (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 281) | VE 108; Sanmartín GlOS 2, 281 | gloss withheld |
| Argobba | šəbäd (LGz. 539) | LGz. 539 | gloss withheld |
| Amorite | śībum, śībatum, śībtum (Gelb AS 21, 31); ši-bu-na-a-ta-am, ši-ib-tum, ši-ba-tum /Siyb, Siybt, Siybat/ (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 281) | Gelb AS 21 31; Sanmartín GlOS 2, 281 | gloss withheld |

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

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/sin/2099_to_have_grey_hair/
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.