Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/ʔalp-

This Proto-Semitic entry contains reconstructed words 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

Numeral

*ʔalp- (dual *ʾalpā-, plural *ʾalapū-)

thousand

Usage notes

The term probably wasn’t strictly a certain number but meant an amount of about this number. In Ethiopian it tends to mean a myriad.

Descendants

Arabic: أَلْف‎ (ʾalf)
- Maltese: elf
- Moroccan Arabic: ألف‎ (ʔalf)
Ethiopian:
- Amharic: እልፍ (ʾəlf)
- Ge'ez: እልፍ (ʾəlf)
- Harari: አልፊ (ʾalfi)
- Tigre: እልፍ (ʾəlf)
- Tigrinya: እልፊ (ʾəlfi)
Northwest Semitic:
- Aramaic: אַלְפָּא‎ (ʾalpā)
  - Classical Syriac: ܐܰܠܦܳܐ‎ (ʾalpā)
- Hebrew: אֶלֶף‎ (ʾélep̄)
- Moabite: 𐤀𐤋𐤐‎ (ʾlp)
- Phoenician: 𐤀𐤋𐤐‎ (ʾlp)
  - Punic: 𐤀𐤋𐤐‎ (ʾlp)
- Ugaritic: 𐎀𐎍𐎔 (ảlp /ʾalpu/)
Modern South Arabian:
- Mehri: ʾalf, ʾāf
- Shehri: ʾelf, ʾɔf
- Soqotri: ʾalf
Old South Arabian: 𐩱𐩡𐩰‎ (ʾalf)

Noun

*ʔalp- (dual *ʾalpā-, plural *ʾalapū-)

head of cattle

Related terms

*ʾalipa (“to be familiar with”, verb)
*ʾallipa (“to tame, to domesticate; to familiarize, to instruct; to unite, to join”, verb)

Descendants

Akkadian: 𒀠𒁍𒌝 (/alpu^m/)
Hebrew: אֶלֶף‎ (ʾélep̄)
Phoenician: 𐤀𐤋𐤐‎ (ʾlp)
- Punic: 𐤀𐤋𐤐‎ (ʾlp)
Soqotri: ʾalf (“heifer”)
Ugaritic: 𐎀𐎍𐎔 (ảlp /ʾalpu/)

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