# \*ẓlm: 'grow dark, be black'

> Proto-Semitic *ẓlm, 'grow dark, be black': reflexes in 21 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>) › [ẓ](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/za/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*ẓlm |
| Meaning | 'grow dark, be black' |
| Basis | project |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geez | ṣalma (LGz. 556) | LGz. 556 | gloss withheld |
| Arabic | ẓalima (LGz. 556; HALOT 1028); ẓulmat (HALOT 1028) | LGz. 556; HALOT 1028 |  |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | Sab ẓlm (SD 172); the place name Ẓalam (Sabaweb lemma 5548) | SD 172; Sabaweb lemma 5548 | gloss withheld |
| Hebrew | \*ṣlm (HALOT 1028); ṣalmūṯ (LGz. 556) | HALOT 1028; LGz. 556 | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | ṭlm (HALOT 1028) | HALOT 1028 |  |
| Syrian Aramaic | ṭlm (HALOT 1028) | HALOT 1028 |  |
| Ugaritic | ẓlmt (LGz. 556; HALOT 1028) | LGz. 556; HALOT 1028 |  |
| Akkadian | ṣalāmu (CAD Ṣ 70; AHw 1076); ṣalmu (CAD Ṣ 77) | CAD Ṣ 70; AHw 1076; CAD Ṣ 77 | gloss withheld |
| Tigre | ṣälma, č̣älma (LGz. 556) | LGz. 556 |  |
| Tigrinya | ṣällämä (LGz. 556) | LGz. 556 |  |
| Gafat | ṣillämä (LGz. 556) | LGz. 556 |  |
| Amharic | č̣ällämä, ṭäyyämä (LGz. 556) | LGz. 556 |  |
| Gurage | č̣ällämä (LGz. 556) | LGz. 556 |  |
| Argobba | č̣elläma (LGz. 556) | LGz. 556 |  |
| Harari | č̣ēläma (LGz. 556); ṭäy \[LHar 157\] | LGz. 556; LHar 157 | gloss withheld |
| East Ethiopic | Sel. ṭēm, Wol. ṭem \[LHar 157\] | LHar 157 |  |
| Mehri | həḏ̣láwm (Kogan 2011, 198) | Kogan 2011 198 | gloss withheld |
| Jibbali | ḏ̣əliũt (Kogan 2011, 198) | Kogan 2011 198 | gloss withheld |
| Soqotri | ṭlm (Kogan 2011, 198) | Kogan 2011 198 | gloss withheld |
| Amorite | ṯ̣alm: ṣa-al-ma-nu-um (Ur III) (Sanmartín GlOS 2, 334) | Sanmartín GlOS 2, 334 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic ẓlmt (Al-Jallad 2026, 177) | Al-Jallad 2026 177 | gloss withheld |

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

## Notes

Not S13 \*ṭalam- 'to wrong' or 2768 \*ṣalm- 'image'.

## Linked from

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

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/za/3122_grow_dark_be_black/
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.