Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/šim-

This Proto-Semitic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Semitic

Etymology

From Proto-Afroasiatic *sim- (“name”). Compare with Hausa suna and Central Atlas Tamazight ⵉⵙⵎ (ism), if not borrowed from Arabic.

Noun

*šim- m

name

Inflection

Declension of *šim-

Case

Singular

Dual

Plural

Nominative

*šimum

*šimāna

plural stem + *-ūna

Genitive

*šimim

*šimayna

plural stem + *-īna

Accusative

*šimam

possessive forms

1st person

*šimī / *šimVya

—

*šimVni

2nd person m

*šimVka

*šimVkumā / *šimVkumay

*šimVkum(ū)

2nd person f

*šimVki

*šimVkin(ā)

3rd person m

*šimVšu

*šimVšumā / *šimVšumay

*šimVšum(ū)

3rd person f

*šimVša

*šimVšin(ā)

Note: the endings -m and -na are dropped in the bound form, which may also undergo syncopation of an unstressed final vowel where possible.

Note: the ending -V before the possessive endings responds to case: *šimuya for nom. case, *šimiya for gen. case, *šimaya for acc. case, etc.

Declension of 2sg m. possessive form (your/thy m.) *šim-

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*šimuka	*šimāka	plural stem + *-ūka
Genitive	*šimika	*šimayka	plural stem + *-īka
Accusative	*šimaka	*šimayka	plural stem + *-īka

Declension of 2sg f. possessive form (your/thy f.) *šim-

	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	*šimuki	*šimāki	plural stem + *-ūki
Genitive	*šimiki	*šimayki	plural stem + *-īki
Accusative	*šimaki	*šimayki	plural stem + *-īki

Descendants

East Semitic:
- Akkadian: 𒈬 (šumum)
West Semitic:
- Central Semitic:
  - Arabic: اِسْم (ism) (see there for further descendants)
  - Northwest Semitic:
    - Aramaic:
      Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: שְׁמָא (šəmā)
      - Classical Syriac: ܫܡܳܐ (šəmā)
    - Canaanite:
      - Hebrew: שֵׁם (shem, šēm)
      - Phoenician: 𐤔𐤌 (šm)
    - Ugaritic: 𐎌𐎎 (šm /⁠šumu⁠/)
  - Old South Arabian:
    - Old South Arabian: 𐩪𐩣 (s¹m)
- Ethiopian Semitic:
  - Amharic: ስም (səm)
  - Argobba: ስም (səm)
  - Ge'ez: ስም (səm)
  - Tigre: ስም (səm)
  - Tigrinya: ስም (səm)
- Modern South Arabian:
  - Mehri: ham
  - Soqotri: شام (šɛm)