Reconstruction:Proto-Afroasiatic/ḥam-

This Proto-Afroasiatic 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-Afroasiatic

Alternative reconstructions

• *ḥim-, *kum-

Etymology 1

Root

*ḥam-

1. to be black.

Descendents

• Proto-Cushitic: *ham- (“darkness, to be black”)
  • Proto-Highland East Cushitic: *hem- ("to be black")
    • Hadiyya: heem- (“to be black”)
• Egyptian: km
  • Demotic: km
    • Fayyumic Coptic: ⲕⲉⲙ (kem)
• Proto-Semitic: *ḥam- ("become black")

Etymology 2

Root

*ḥam-

1. to be hot.

Descendents

• Hausa: gumi (“sweat”) (possibly)
• Iraqw: hamee (“sweat”)
• Hebrew: חַם (kham, “hot”)
• Central Atlas Tamazight: ⵢⴻⵃⵎⴰⵏ (yeḥman, “hot”)

References

• Orel, Vladimir E., Stolbova, Olga V. (1995) Hamito-Semitic Etymological Dictionary: Materials for a Reconstruction (Handbuch der Orientalistik; I.18), Leiden, New York, Köln: E.J. Brill, pages 273, 326.