Reconstruction:Proto-Cushitic/ham-

This Proto-Cushitic 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-Cushitic

Etymology

From Proto-Afroasiatic *ḥam- (“to be black”).

Root

*ham-

1. darkness.
2. to be black.

Derived terms

• *ham-n
  • *ham-n > *hab-n
    • Proto-Somaloid: *hib'èén (see there for further descendants)
    • Proto-Oromoid:
      • Oromo: halkan
  • Gawwada: kumminko (“the dark”)

• *ham-d
  • *ham-d > *hab-d
    • Proto-North Cushitic: hab-d > haw-d
      • Beja: hauwaad (“night”)
    • Proto-Oromoid:
      • Proto-Konsoid:
        • Khonso: halkeetta (“night”)
  • *ham-d > *ham-t
    • Iraqw: hhaantee (“darkness”)

Descendants

• Proto-Central Cushitic:
  • Blin: kŭn (“dark”)
  • Xamtanga: kŭn (“dark”)
• Proto-East Cushitic
  • Proto-Highland East Cushitic: *hem-
    • Hadiyya: heem- (“to be black”)
  • Dullay:
    • Gawwada: kuma (“black”)
• Proto-South Cushitic
  • Iraqw: hhíp (“black”)

References

• Ehret, Christopher (1987) “Proto-Cushitic Reconstruction”, in Sprache und Geschichte in Afrika, volume 8, pages 7–180