Reconstruction:Proto-Semitic/ṯin-

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

Compare with Central Atlas Tamazight ⵙⵉⵏ (sin) and Egyptian snwj; Hurrian šini (“two”) and Proto-Nakh *ši(n) (“two”).

Numeral

Proto-Semitic numbers ^(edit)

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Cardinal: *ṯin-

*ṯin-

1. two

Reconstruction notes

Various tentative forms are given below to account for the descendants, many of which seem to have incorporated a dual suffix. Huehnergard reconstructs the lemma as *ṯin(ā)- to reflect both the Akkadian and West Semitic roots. Testen reconstructs *ṯn-, with an initial consonant cluster, which accounts for the r forms in Aramaic and Modern South Arabian.

Inflection

Declension of *ṯin-

Case	m	f
Nominative	*ṯinum	*ṯinatum
Genitive	*ṯinim	*ṯinatim
Accusative	*ṯinam	*ṯinatam

Descendants

• *ṯin-āni ~ *(i)ṯn-āni (absolute with dual suffix)
  • East Semitic:
    • Akkadian: 𒈫 (šinā)
  • West Semitic:
    • Central Semitic:
      • Arabic: اِثْنَانِ (iṯnāni) (see there for further descendants)
      • Northwest Semitic:
        • Aramaic: תְּרַיִן (tərayin), תְּרֵין (tərēn)
        • Canaanite:
          • Hebrew: שְׁנַיִם (sh'náyim, šənáyim)
          • Phoenician: ‎𐤔𐤍𐤌 (‎šnm), 𐤀‎𐤔𐤍𐤌 (ʾ‎šnm)
        • Ugaritic: 𐎘𐎐 (ṯn /⁠ṯinā⁠/)
      • Old South Arabian:
        • Hadrami: 𐩯𐩬𐩺𐩣 (s₃nym)
    • Modern South Arabian:
      • Bathari: ṯeroh
      • Mehri: ṯroh
      • Harsusi: ṯruh
      • Hobyót: iṯroh
• *ṯin-ā ~ *(i)ṯn-ā (construct with dual suffix)
  • West Semitic:
    • Arabic: اِثْنَا (iṯnā)
      • Northwest Semitic:
        • Aramaic: תְּרֵי (tərē)
        • Canaanite:
          • Hebrew: שְׁנֵי (sh'né, šənê)
• *ṯin-t-āni ~ *(i)ṯn-at-āni (absolute with feminine and dual suffix)
  • East Semitic:
    • Akkadian: 𒈫 (šittā)
  • West Semitic:
    • Central Semitic:
      • Arabic: ثِنْتَانِ (ṯintāni), اِثْنَتَانِ (iṯnatāni) (see there for further descendants)
      • Northwest Semitic:
        • Aramaic: תַּרְתֵּיִן (tartayin), Aramaic: תַּרְתֵּין (tartēn)
        • Canaanite:
          • Hebrew: שְׁתַּיִם (shtáyim, štáyim)
        • Ugaritic: 𐎘𐎚 (ṯt /⁠ṯittā⁠/)
    • Modern South Arabian:
      • Bathari: ṯerēt
      • Harsusi: ṯart
      • Hobyót: iṯrīt
      • Mehri: ṯrayt
• *ṯin-t-ā ~ *(i)ṯn-at-ā (construct with feminine and dual suffix)
  • Arabic: ثِنْتَا (ṯintā), اِثْنَتَا (iṯnatā)
• *(i)ṯn̥-t-ā ~ *(i)ṯr̥-t-ā (construct with feminine and dual suffix and syncope)
  • Hebrew: שְׁתֵּי (shté, štê) < *štā < *ṯtā < *ṯt-t-ā < *ṯn̥-t-ā
• Unsorted formations:
  • Old South Arabian: , 𐩻𐩬𐩺 (ṯny)
  • Eblaite: šina

References

• Huehnergard, John (2019) “Proto-Semitic”, in Huehnergard, John and Na'ama Pat-El, editors, The Semitic Languages, 2nd edition, Routledge, →ISBN
• Testen, David (1985) "The Significance of Aramaic r < *n" Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 143-146.